The heavens opened shortly before kick off and much of the game was a slog in the mud.  Both sides battled heroically and Congleton’s Steve Tobin saw his diagonal shot fly inches past the far post after six minutes.  Eleven minutes later, Steve Maden did well to block Andy Kinsey’s shot on the turn in the Nelson penalty area. 

After 24 minutes, Nelson almost snatched the lead when Sam Heap released Lance Ogunyode on a run into the visitors’ penalty area and, as keeper Matthew Conkie got down to block his shot, a scramble ensued but without a Blues player being able to force the ball into the net. 

Andy Kinsey shaved the Nelson post with a 25 yard free kick after 36 minutes but the Blues continued to work hard in midfield to create chances at the other end and forced a series of corners just before half time. 

Two minutes into the second half, Sam Heap’s cross from the bye line was blocked by the upraised arm of a defender but the referee waved away Nelson’s strong claims for what looked a justifiable penalty.   

On the hour, Martin Payne’s cross reached Lance Ogunyode in front of goal but keeper Matthew Conkie blocked his close range shot in the muddy goalmouth.  Six minutes later, Luke Hargreaves’ free kick was fisted away by Conkie and, within the next minute, the keeper again found himself under pressure from another high free kick into his goalmouth which he fumbled in the wet conditions. 

Chris Thompson in the Nelson goal showed superb handling of the slippery ball and confidently saved Mark Fitton’s header following a corner kick after 70 minutes.  Darren Wright was unfortunate to be penalised for a great tackle to stop a Congleton attack and, from the free kick, Thompson made a superb save to block the shot and Lance Ogunyode cleared upfield. 

In the closing minutes, Chris Ogunyode tested Conkie with a 30 yard free kick as Nelson applied the pressure.  With time running out, Darren Wright’s diagonal free kick was headed down into the visitors’ penalty area by Daniel Finch and the ball was blocked by the arm of a Congleton defender but once again the referee refused to give Nelson what looked a clear penalty. 

In the end, a draw was a fair result as neither side deserved to lose after a battling performance in atrocious conditions on a saturated Saturday afternoon.