Nelson 5 Barnoldswick Town 0

New signings Scott Byrom and Bryn Potter made their debuts as Town suffered their fourth-successive North West Counties League Premier Division defeat on Tuesday night.

The result leaves the Victory Park club second from bottom with just three goals for and 16 against.

Nelson started well and Ed Hall had to fist a cross clear under pressure from a Nelson forward in the fourth minute.

The ball fell to Ben Hoskin on the edge of the Town penalty area but he pulled his shot wide.

Hall had to be alert again to tip a Peter Wright free-kick over his crossbar just four minutes later.

Town’s first chance came after 20 minutes when Aaron Hollindrake fed Joel Melia. He crossed to the far post, where Chris Simpson grazed a post with a header.

Melia had a shot tipped round the post by Nelson keeper Ben Woodhead as the visitors attacked again.

It was slightly against the run of play that Nelson took the lead. Hall made another good save from Wright to concede a corner.

Danny Mahoney floated the ball into the six-yard box where Hoskin headed powerfully past Hall.

Town then committed the cardinal sin of not clearing their lines. Hall’s attempted clearance hit a Nelson player and fell into the path of Hoskin who made no mistake to put Nelson two up.

It was all Nelson up to half-time with Hall having to make further good saves from Jonny Hession and Ged Morris.

Nelson started the better again in the second half, and Hoskin and Jake Lloyd had shots blocked inside the Town penalty area after a Mahoney free-kick on the edge of the penalty area.

Town gradually fought their way back into the game. Aaron Hollindrake had the misfortune to see his shot rebound off a post.

Hollindrake also went close minutes later. His shot from Potter’s cross looped up towards goal, but grounded goalkeeper Woodhead was relieved to see the ball drop into his arms.

Nelson had a real chance to go 3-0 up on the hour mark. Mahoney crossed from the Town left and Liam Roswell, sliding in at the near post, could only send the ball the wrong side of the post.

A promising Town move was halted by an offside decision and then the visitors felt they were denied a penalty.

Martin Broderick slipped Simpson through the Nelson defence into the penalty area where he was brought down. The officials ruled the offence was committed outside the box and awarded a fee kick.

Town made a double substitution after 67 minutes with Hollindrake and Simpson making way for Mark Threlfall and Liam Hoyle.

It was encouraging that Town continued to press and Melia teased the defence with a jinking run which resulted in a corner.

From the set piece, Byrom’s cross found Shaun Airey’s head at the far post but he could only direct his header wide of the Nelson post from a good position.

With Town pressing for the goal that would bring them back into the match they left gaps at the back and it was no surprise when Nelson added three more goals through Edward O’Neill (80), Wright (85) and Liam Boswell (89).

The scoreline looks poor but the Town performance didn’t deserve it. For large sections of this match they were the equal of Nelson and with a little more luck they could easily have scored a couple of goals.