Blues were trailing to three counter attack goals when play was abandoned after 84 minutes for an off-the-field incident.

The wet weather had played havoc with the pitch over the last few days, and both sides found it hard to muster any sort of rhythm throughout.

Nelson had the bulk of the possession in the first half, but failed to make it pay in the final third of the field. They were punished on 35 minutes when the home side took advantage of a defensive mix-up, and following a fumble by Billy Carrington a home striker was on hand to blast into an unguarded net.

Both sides were reduced to ten men midway through the second half. Nelson's Brad Pates mistimed a challenge which sparked a mini-brawl in the centre of the pitch.

The referee sent off Pates and the Oldham number 10, but only yellow carded the Town number 8 who had rained in a few right-handers to the heads of Nelson defenders.

Nelson again dominated possession but failed to make the right decisions in and around the Town penalty area, and were punished when another breakaway resulted in a second goal for the home side courtesy of a sublime chipped finish over Carrington. On 78 minutes Oldham netted a third following another piece of sloppy defending and there was no way back for the Blues.

With six minutes remaining news came through of a physical assault and possible gas attack on two of the substituted Nelson players in the dressing room. The referee suspended proceedings to investigate, and a few minutes later abandoned the match and called in police.

The League will now be called on to make their judgement on the game and the incident, but hopefully Town - run by a genuinely decent and affable gentleman - will not be hit too hard by any ruling.