NELSON grabbed a lifeline for survival in Vodkat League Division One with a hard fought win against Formby at Victoria Park.

And now Nick Jackson-Cooney's side, bottom of the Vodkat Division One table, may escape the drop with another victory at Flixton tonight.

The Blues looked nervous in a dour first-half when their defence was frequently tested by a lively visitors' attack.

But after half-time, Nelson grew in confidence and Martin Payne should have given them the lead when he raced clear, only to chip wide of the Formby goal.

The Blues made the breakthrough after 68 minutes when Ed O'Neil's shot had the sting taken out of it by a ricochet, but the ball fell perfectly for Alex Mugan to knock the ball into the bottom corner of the net from close range.

Paul Morley and Gary Smith almost extended the Blues' lead with shots on target, but Nelson were awarded a penalty when Formby's captain John Garnell used his hands to stop Mark Banyard's angled shot after 84 minutes, and Garnell was given his marching orders.

Smith blasted the spot-kick into the roof of the net to double Nelson's lead.

Formby made a fight of it in the closing stages and pulled a goal back in the last minute when Charles Jones' cross was knocked in at the far post by Eric Farrington, but it was a mere consolation goal as Nelson held firm.