NELSON now face a long trip to the North East tomorrow night for a replay after their FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round tie finished goalless, despite half an hour of extra time.

In a disappointing dour game, the Blues rarely looked capable of breaking the deadlock and badly missed their young goalscorer Carl Howarth who was sidelined through injury.

Nelson felt they should have had a penalty after 18 minutes when Andy Haworth's cross was handled by a defender inside the visitors' penalty area but the referee waved aside their claims.

The visitors' centre forward was sent off for a reckless tackle on Dave Leigh but the Blues never found it easy against 10 men.

Norton were quick to counter-attack and almost took the lead on the hour with a back post header from a corner kick, but Dave Leith cleared off the goal line to rescue Nelson. Five minutes later Norton survived another penalty appeal when yet again a defender appeared to use his hands.

The nearest Nelson came to a goal was after 75 minutes when Dave Gray laid the ball back for Brad Pates who struck the Norton crossbar.

With the introduction of substitutes Coldridge and Molyneux, the Blues increased the pressure on the visitors' defence in the closing stages.

Nelson almost snatched a goal in the first period during a goalmouth scramble, but the ball finished just the wrong side of the post, and Dave Gray failed to capitalise on a couple of half chances.

In the second period of extra time Mick Charlton saved the day for the Blues with a great tackle in the home penalty area.

Nelson's best chance of this period fell to Lee Coldridge five minutes from the end the cross fell just behind Coldridge and he shot wide from a close range.

TOMORROW'S scheduled game against Bacup has been postponed until later in the season.