The Blues missed a string of chances in the first half when they should have put the game out of sight and found themselves a goal behind after 28 minutes when former Nelson player Isaac Kusaloka cashed in on some slack defending from a corner kick to give the visitors the lead. 

Nelson should have been in front after ten minutes when Luke Hargreaves and Sam Heap combined to set up Chris Clarkson in the visitors’ goalmouth but the Nelson striker saw his shot come back off the post after he had worked himself an opening.   

And the Blues missed another great opportunity after 24 minutes when Sam Heap was unable to force the ball past a defender in the goalmouth and Chris Clarkson saw his close range shot saved by the keeper at the expense of a corner. 

Squires Gate took the lead after 28 minutes but Sam Heap was twice denied by visiting keeper Andrew Speight in as many minutes as he found space in the Squires Gate penalty area.  As half time approached, a Darren Wright free kick was headed on by Sam Heap and Gate defender Thomas Bartlett sliced the ball into his own net off the post for Nelson’s equaliser. 

Squires Gate began the second half in a positive mood and regained the lead after 53 minutes when Jamie Nay forced a low cross from the right touchline into the Nelson penalty area and Paul Ryan knocked the ball inside the far post to restore their lead at 2-1. 

A double substitution on the hour revitalised Nelson’s attack and Marc Berry looked poised to score from Phil Prescott’s cross before a defender intervened to head the chance away.  But the Blues were not to be denied and, after 75 minutes, Chris Ogunyode’s free kick was headed home by his brother Lance on his debut to level the scores at 2-2. 

Martin Payne felt aggrieved when he was refused a penalty after 86 minutes as he went down under challenge in the visitors’ area.  But Nelson keeper Chris Thompson produced some good saves to keep Squires Gate at bay in the end-to-end closing stages of the game. 

It was a game of many chances for both sides and a draw was a fair result.  Nelson will be looking to go one better when the meet Alsager Town at Victoria Park on Saturday before travelling to Atherton LR next Tuesday night.

Match photos kindly provided by Albert Cooper