Nelson were left without a prayer as Abbey Hey plundered the points at Victoria Park.

The home defence failed to cut out a high cross by Paddy Garmory after only three minutes and Steve Worthington gave the visitors the lead with a simple header at the back post.

Nelson should have been level within five minutes when Glen Ainsworth's corner gave Nathan Benson a free header, but his effort flew inches over the bar.

And the Blues fell further behind just one minute into the second-half when Jamie Almond's high cross to the far post was headed home by Graham Vaughan.

Nelson could make no real chances despite the introduction of Jeff Moulton and Paul Posteraro from the subs bench, and were lucky to survive a penalty appeal when Michael Kearney was brought down on the edge of the home area on 63 minutes.

And it was Kearney who created Abbey Hey's third goal with a good run and shot across the face of goal which was turned in by Jamie Almond at the far post to complete the scoring on 82 minutes.