Nelson 3 Bacup Borough 3

BOROUGH discovered their shooting boots in this action-packed local derby, but Nelson battled hard to score twice in the last five minutes to share the NWTL Division Two spoils at Victoria Park.

Bacup gave the Blues a first-half lesson in finishing and while the home side created plenty of chances, it was Bacup who capitalised after 42 minutes when a corner from the right found Denny Khan unmarked in front of goal. He stooped to head the ball powerfully home.

Bacup increased their lead in the first minute of the second half when Nicky Taylor blasted in the rebound as Rob Molloy saved from Paul Lyons.

The game looked to be going Borough's way, but Andy Howarth gave Nelson a lifeline after 72 minutes when he pulled a goal back following good work by Glen Little. Straight from the kick-off however, Bacup restored their two-goal advantage as Jason Rogers coolly tucked the ball under Molloy for his side's third goal.

As the game reached the closing stages, Nelson stepped up the pressure and on 85 minutes Jonathan Irvine headed the ball down for Ian Fleming to flick past goalkeeper Robert Greatbanks from 12 yards to put the Blues back in the game.

In Nelson's next attack, Bacup's Stuart Walters was penalised for climbing on the shoulders of Irvine, and the resultant free kick from the the edge of the penalty area was driven into the Bacup net by Fleming, for the home side's equaliser.

Nelson might even have grabbed a winner in the dying seconds but both sides were happy to settle for a draw.

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