NELSON were taken to the cleaners as Abbey Hey went on a three-goal spree in the second-half of this Premier Division game at Victoria Park.

The Blues always looked vulnerable to the slick passing of the visitors’ attack, but were given a golden chance of the lead after 23 minutes when Sam Heap raced clear from the half-way line, only to be caught by a defender before shooting wide.

And Nelson were punished after 41 minutes when Danny Heffernan put Abbey Hey in front with a close-range shot in a crowded goalmouth.

The Blues produced their best move of the game on the stroke of half-time, with Lee Kershaw the instigator in midfield, and Martin Payne the provider of the cross from the wing for Alex Mugan to drive home the equaliser from 10 yards.

But Nelson’s hopes were short-lived as, 10 minutes into the second-half, their defence was pulled out to the left wing and Mike Brown came in from the right to drive an angled shot past Billy Carrington to restore the visitors’ lead.

Abbey Hey went further ahead after 65 minutes when a free-kick was driven low into the Nelson goalmouth and Aide Nevins fired in from close-range.

And Nevins completed the scoring with a header that went in off the post after 76 minutes.