IT TOOK a Mark Robinson special to brighten up this festive local derby in front of a bumper crowd of 180 spectators at Victoria Park on Bank Holiday Monday.

The goal was no more than Nelson deserved in a first half which they controlled and, but for goalkeeper Mark Canning, they might have had the game sewn up by half time.

Canning denied Jonathan Irvine with two great saves in the first half and was let off the hook when Irvine shot wide with only the Colne keeper to beat.

Robinson showed no mercy when he outstripped the Colne defence to meet a curling right wing cross from Stuart Mulligan and power a bullet header firmly into the roof of the net from six yards after 33 minutes.

In the second half Colne were more competitive and restricted the Nelson forwards to fewer chances, but Robinson might have added further goals and Canning again produced a spectacular save to keep out a Kieran Roberts close range header which seemed destined for the net.

John Bailey was well satisfied with the three points gained and looked forward to the return fixture at Hole House on January 3.

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