NELSON went five points clear at the top of the NWCL Division One with what was eventually comfortable win at near neighbours Colne.

But they had to survive an early scare when Colne's Fyles gave the strugglers -- third from bottom of the division -- a 15th minute lead.

Carl Howarth equalised for the table toppers one minute before the interval before Mark Robinson added the second a minute after the restart.

Robinson made it 3-1 on the hour -- his sixth of the season -- before Jonathan Irvine, back after an injury lay-off, added number four four minutes later.

Irvine made it five with ten minutes remaining, making it a good comeback for the striker as he took his own tally to eight goals for the season.

The victory took Nelson's run of league wins to nine matches while it was Colne's eighth successive loss.