NELSON ...1 DAISY HILL ...1

NELSON had to settle for a point against a vastly improved Daisy Hill at Victoria Park on Saturday.

The Blues started well and could have had the game sewn up by half-time but Duncan Bennett was guilty of a glaring miss when he blasted the ball over the bar after the goalkeeper could only parry Steve Whittaker's free kick on 24 minutes.

However, Bennett atoned for his error just four minutes later with a powerful header from a corner kick to give Nelson the lead.

Steve Whittaker's good run set up Paul Fildes with a good chance after 35 minutes, but his lack of control allowed defenders to step in and clear the danger.

Five minutes before half-time, Nelson were caught out when Daisy Hill defender Rick Jordan was not picked up driving forward on the left wing and a good diagonal pass supplied him with the ball. Although keeper Billy Carrington advancedto block Jordan's shot it looped into the net via the underside of the crossbar to level the scores.

Nelson found life harder in the second half as the visitors grew in confidence, but they created more chances after the introduction of Craig Bradshaw on the hour, and Paul Barrett went close several times.