A disappointing performance by Nelson Reserves saw them go down 4-1 to Atherton LR at Victoria Park on Saturday.

Leon Goulden put the visitors in front after 20 minutes with an angled shot after the Blues failed to clear a free kick from their area.

Five minutes later, Nelson drew level when a goalbound shot was kept out of the net by a defender's arm and Ashley Alderson drove home the resulting penalty.

Atherton scored a gift of a goal just three minutes later to regain the lead when a mix-up in the Blues defence allowed Jay Norman to shoot into the unguarded net from outside the penalty area.

And a spectacular overhead kick by Wes Huggins after 38 minutes put Atherton 3-1 up at half time.

Norman made it 4-1 to Atherton after 66 minutes with an excellent solo run and shot.

Nelson came close to scoring when Lewis Jordan saw his header come back off the bar.