NELSON'S hopes of victory were dashed by a late equaliser against Blackpool Mechanics.

In a game badly affected by the strong swirling wind, the Blues found themselves a goal behind after Mark Ashall found the net with a looping header on 36 minutes.

Nelson began to improve in the second half with Paul Sconce providing the driving force in midfield and both Craig Bradshaw and Paul Barrett had shots blocked in the Mechanics' goalmouth.

Eventually the breakthrough came when Martin Brown set up Paul Fildes for a speculative 30-yard shot which found the bottom corner of the net to level the scores at 1-1 after 64 minutes.

The Blues increased the pressure and were rewarded just six minutes later when Kevin Richardson's free kick from out on the left wing was headed powerfully goalward by Duncan Bennett.

The Blues then played their best football of the game without finding another goal to kill off their opponents and Mechanics hit back with an equaliser after 86 minutes when Terry Green's swerving shot came back off the crossbar and James Blaney fired in the rebound.

BLACKPOOL MECHS...2

NELSON...2