Nelson 0 Congleton Town 0

2:01pm Monday 24th March 2008

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NELSON battled all the way to earn a point at home to high-flying Congleton at Victoria Park.

Gary Smith should have given the Blues the lead at Victoria Park after only four minutes, but his mis-hit shot bounced on top of the visitors' crossbar before being cleared.

And Jason Jones, making his debut for Nelson, had a perfect chance on the half-hour but shot wide.

New signing Kevin Brown was outstanding at the heart of the Blues defence alongside Chris Gallagher, who kept Town's goal-poacher Andy Hurst in check.

Danny Stanley forced a good save from Congleton goalkeeper Stuart Heeps early in the second-half, before Alex Mugan wasted a good chance with a weak shot.

But Nelson had to thank keeper Billy Carrington on the hour when he saved a close range shot from Hurst and, from the resulting corner, produced a great save to turn Darren Twigg's powerful header over the bar.

Nelson's Smith only just failed to force home a close range chance in a crowded Congleton goalmouth.

But in the closing stages, the Nelson defence fought a determined battle to hold on the face of a late onslaught by the visitors.