SQUIRES GATE 0 NELSON 0 NELSON gained a valuable point with a fighting performance in their top of the table clash against rivals Squires Gate at School Road.

The Blues looked comfortable in the first half and might have opened the scoring in a late flurry just before half time when Kiko Rodriguez had three good chances.

Six minutes after the interval however, Gate's Scott Sugden rattled the Nelson crossbar with a 20 yard shot as the home side began to look more dangerous.

A Paul Sconce free kick on 65 minutes found Rodriguez in front of goal but his header came back off the post and into the goalkeeper's arms in a let-off for Gate.

In the end to end action, Sugden forced Mark Canning into a full length save after 79 minutes and then headed the resultant corner over the bar from almost on the goal line.

It looked as if Jonathan Irvine might grab the winner after 85 minutes when a misdirected backpass by a Gate defender sent him clear from the halfway line.

However, as he bore down on goal he pushed the ball too far forward and home keeper Gareth Gray came out to hack it clear and deny the Nelson striker the final glory.