Nelson 5 Holker OB 1

NELSON brushed aside their opponents in the first round of the Marsden Lancashire Challenge Trophy at a rain-lashed Victoria Park once they got into their stride.

Despite John Bailey's side holding the upper hand it was almost half time before Stuart Mulligan opened the scoring with a 20-yard shot after 43 minutes.

It took a further 20 minutes of the second half before Mark Robinson added the second Nelson goal from close range. Graham Foster rocked Nelson with an immediate reply for Holker. His shot finding the net despite the efforts of keeper Mark Canning, who then pulled off a series of saves to deny the visitors at a critical time.

Stuart Mulligan restored Nelson's second goal cushion by adding their third after 72 minutes with a typical poacher's effort at the far post. Kiko Rodriguez scored Nelson's fourth goal when he rounded the keeper in the 84th minute and slotted the ball home from a narrow angle.

Holker were reduced to 10 men when Matt Dewey was sent off for bad language to the referee before Scott Gizon put the icing on the cake for Nelson when he headed home Chris Halstead's cross to complete the scoring in the final minute and give Nelson an emphatic victory.