The Blues started well and Martin Payne almost caught the visiting keeper out after 12 minutes when his 45 yard lob drifted just wide of the goal with keeper Andrew Hewitt stranded.

At the other end, Chris Thompson made a series of good saves to deny Atherton the lead as their strikers buzzed around the home penalty area.

Luke's belting free-kick crashed into the net off the underside of the bar

After 22 minutes, Sam Heap's shot flew across the goal as Lance Ogunyode appeared to be tripped by a defender in the area but nothing was given.

And, four minutes later, Heap saw his shot blocked in the area after Luke Hargreaves had laid the ball back to him from Martin Payne's cross.

The Blues took the lead after 28 minutes with a 30 yard free kick that Luke Hargreaves blasted into the net via the underside of the crossbar with Hewitt helpless to intervene.

Three minutes later, Atherton might have levelled the scores when a long diagonal cross reached Philip Heyworth at the far post but he headed wide of the Nelson goal from a difficult chance.

Lance finished off the move of the match to double Nelson's lead

As play swung to the other end, Nelson doubled their lead when Martin Payne was sent clear on the right wing and his low cross was met by Lance Ogunyode just six yards out to score with a shot under the diving keeper.

The game threatened to boil over five minutes later when a strong tackle by Darren Wright provoked a violent reaction from the Atherton players and the referee struggled to keep control. He produced a rash of yellow cards but amazingly the Atherton player who had started the trouble by throwing punches escaped scot-free.

Five minutes into the second half, Alex Mugan was tripped in the visitors' penalty area and Hargreaves converted the spot kick to put Nelson three in front.

Atherton pushed forward but some good defensive work by Alex Mugan and Marc Berry denied their strikers a clear sight of goal.

After 61 minutes, an end-to-end move was started by Daniel Finch, headed on by Lance Ogunyode and Martin Payne's long cross to the far post won Nelson a corner.

John Luker grabbed his first of the season to put Nelson four up

From the corner kick, Luke Hargreaves found John Luker at the far post and Nelson's big defender fired into the roof of the Atherton net to put the Blues four goals in front.

Nelson were cruising at this point and hungry for more goals but Atherton came back strongly in the final quarter of an hour when Nelson took off Sam Heap and left Ogunyode isolated up front.

Bradley Cooke pulled one back from the penalty spot after 78 minutes after the referee spotted a slight tug of the shirt by Luke Hargreaves on Tony Lancashire.

And, two minutes later, Cooke scored a second goal when he hooked a good shot into the roof of the Nelson net from 20 yards.

After 89 minutes, Phil Heyworth made a good run inside the Nelson penalty area before curling a shot just inside the post for Atherton's third goal but it came too late to give them a chance of an equaliser.

Nelson travel to Bacup on Wednesday night for what promises to be a thrilling local derby.