The reserve team picked up a point with a 0-0 draw at Atherton Collieries on Saturday afternoon.

Atherton Collieries Res 0 - 0 Nelson Res

The Blues second string were back in action at bottom of the table Atherton Colls on Saturday. The team was almost as you were from the previous game against Woodley apart from leg fracture victim Skipper Greg Boyes who will miss the rest of the season. The pitch was bone hard with not a lot of grass on it and molded sole footwear was the order of the day.

The game started with Nelson on the back foot but Atherton never really created any goal scoring chances apart from a freekick which shaved the top of Mark Canings crossbar. Nelson then got back into the game and had 2 very good chances to score. Both chances fell to Laurie Cryer, the first one a long punt forward was latched onto by Cryer, he rounded the 'keeper but hit the outside of the post from a difficult angle. Chance number 2 again was a long punt forward and Cryer beat the 'keeper only to see the ball hacked away by an Atherton defender from under the crossbar. So the teams went in level at half time 0 - 0.

In the second half, Nelson were playing against the slope and never really got going. Atherton had 90% of the possession but again they never really troubled Canning in the Nelson goal. The only thing of note that happened was with 15 minutes to go Young David Bickerstaffe was involved in a scuffle with the Atherton Centre forward and Bickerstaffe appeared to kick out at the Atherton player and the referee, whgo had been poor all day, gave Bickerstaffe a straight red card. Manager Andy Wych then re-shuffled the team to cover for the departed Bickerstaffe and although Atherton will count themselves unlucky, Nelsons defence held firm to the end, and the game ended 0 - 0.

Manager Andy Wych said in his post match interview, "We were never really at the races today, we looked like a team just playing out until the end of the season. Well to me that is not acceptable, we still have another seven games left to play and both myself and first team manager John Bailey are now looking towards next season with players who will be at the club and players who will be relased. So players still need to impress to be retained next season.

"As for the sending off, David knows what he did was wrong and he certainly will not do it again after the rollocking I gave him. I will not accept that in any of the teams that I manage".

Next week the Blues reserves are at home to Salford City kick off 3pm.