Atherton LR 1, Nelson 3

NELSON returned to action with an excellent away win at Crilly Park in the NWCL Two.

Nigel Coates gave them a great start after 15 minutes when he beat the keeper from 10 yards after Stuart Mulligan had done the spadework with a left wing run and cross.

The Blues, playing up the slope, had to soak up some pressure from the home side but increased their lead after 35 minutes when Mulligan again was the provider.

Having won a corner he took the kick himself and found the head of Kiko Rodriguez at the far post and the experienced striker put Nelson two goals ahead with a bullet header.

As half time approached, a lapse by the Nelson defence allowed Gary Andrews to volley a great shot from the edge of the penalty area which gave Canning no chance and brought the score back to 1-2 at the interval.

Eight minutes into the second half Karl Howarth was brought down in the penalty area and Kiko Rodriquez stepped up to blast the spot kick past the keeper and restore Nelson's two goal cushion.

Despite chances at both ends, the score remained the same and John Bailey's team finished the stronger, deservedly taking all three points at the final whistle.