NELSON were given a harsh lesson in finishing by the big guns from the first division in this FA Carlsberg Vase first qualifying round at Victory Park.

In a bright opening the home side should have taken the lead but Jonathan Irvine could only blaze over the bar from a golden opportunity. Stuart Rudd showed how it should be done with a 20 yard strike after 14 minutes and Skem never looked back. Robbie Cowley scored twice within two minutes just after the half hour to dismiss any hopes that Nelson might have although Nigel Coates and Craig Stansfield never gave up trying to find a way past the solid Skem defence.

In the second half the visitors again made their class tell and Terry Burghall and Darren Turton added the fourth and fifth goals.

Nelson brought on their three substitutes and it was one of these, Steve Turner, who produced a rare highlight for them when he rattled the Skem crossbar with a cracking shot on 80 minutes.

Five minutes from time Cowley completed his hat-trick when he beat a dejected Rob Molloy from close range to round off an afternoon which Nelson will be happy to forget.

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