NELSON'S plight became serious as they slumped to defeat with an abysmal second half display against Leek at Victoria Park.

The Blues have now gone eight league games without a win after promising so much in the first half of the season.

Nelson looked the better side early on and could have been three goals up after a quarter of an hour but Paul. Barrett, Lee Coldridge and Paul Fildes all wasted golden opportunities with only the visiting keeper to beat.

After 35 minutes Martin Brown found the net at the wrong end of the field when he sliced a clearance over his own keeper to give Leek a fortuitous lead.

The visitors took full advantage as the Nelson heads dropped, and came close to adding more goals before eventually David Harper's persistent run left defenders trailing and his cross was sidefooted home by Alan Nagington at the far post to double Leek's lead after 51 minutes.

Simon Hewitt, the Nelson keeper, was exposed by a poor backpass after 68 minutes and Peter Heler won the challenge before slotting in Leek's third goal into an empty net.

Nelson tried desperately to claw back the deficit but conceded a penalty after 80 minutes when Paul Fildes brought down Alan Naginton who recovered to fire home the spot kick to complete the scoring.

NELSON...0

LEEK CSOB...4