A CONTROVERSIAL refereeing desicion in the second half cost Nelson a share of the points.

With the sides level at 1-1 after 75 minutes, referee Mark Ackerman allowed Atherton to take a free kick while Nelson were lining up their defensive wall and Ashley Elliot scored the winner with a shot into an unguarded net.

The Blues had made a bright start and Lee Barrett was unlucky to see his shot come back off the post after 26 minutes.

But, after 39 minutes, the referee played advantage following some lunging tackles, to allow Rick Arnold to break clear in the Nelson penalty area.

Keeper Billy Carrington was shown a red card for pulling Arnold to the ground and Robert Hope scored the spot kick.

The 10 men of Nelson fought hard and get their reward after 66 minutes when Mark Banyard's dipping 30-yard shot was juggled into his own net by Craig Clare.

Elliot's free kick then put the home side in front, before Ian Berry shot against the Nelson post.

But Lee Turner might have had an equaliser late on if he had chosen to shoot rather than control the ball in the six yard box.