Maine Road 3 Nelson 1

12:23pm Monday 31st March 2008

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NELSON missed out on the points despite a promising first-half in which they took the lead.

Mark Banyard put the Blues in front with an angled shot after Martin Payne and Ed O'Neil had set up the chance on 23 minutes.

But Maine Road hit back just four minutes later when Ashley Jones forced the ball past Billy Carrington from close range.

With the heavy rain and wind at their backs, Nelson looked favourites in the second-half, but Chris Gallagher saw his free-kick come back off the Maine Road crossbar after 53 minutes.

And as play swung to the other end, Jones made another penetrating run and provided a low cross which Luke Mack knocked home from close range to give the home side the lead.

After 63 minutes, Maine Road went further ahead with a good build-up that released Michael Kierney into the Blues penalty area, and he slotted in his side's third goal.

The home side's ability to master the worsening conditions was the key to their success and Declan O'Shea almost added a fourth goal in the closing minutes when he hit the Nelson post with his first touch of the ball.