BACUP and Nelson shared the spoils but it was Bacup who felt they deserved more in this NWCL Division Two derby.

Manager Brent Peters said: "The game should have been over by half time. We could have been 4-1 up in the first 12 minutes.

"We created opportunities but we needed to put them away. Nelson scored a good goal just before half time and that got their tails up and they improved after the break but I was amazed at how easy it was to get through their midfield and defence.

"But I am sure they will be one of the teams challenging at the end of the season."

Bacup's Karl Stanley almost took the lead on three minutes when an effort hit the inside of the post but bounced back out to the keeper.

Three minutes later former Bacup player Scott Gilchrist was dispossessed by Vinny Pattison but his ball to Damian Moran was pulled wide.

Bacup keeper Adam Potts made a good save to keep the score level and Stuart Farnell wasted another opportunity to put Bacup ahead when he headed wide.

Just before half time Nelson went ahead through Stuart Mulligan after Pattison gave the ball away on the edge of the area, Potts came off his line but couldn't stop the ball going in.

Bacup's Farnell had an effort blocked and Nelson's David Lee rattled the crossbar before Bacup equalised after 88 minutes when Mark Hall headed home.

RESULT: BACUP...1 NELSON...1