Atherton LR fell to defeat for the second consecutive week, losing 3-1 at home against NWCFL First Division North leaders, Nelson.
Both sides battled hard in the opening 15 minutes with LR enjoying chances with Brandon Dawson receiving long balls from Dave Moore, however some fierce defending by Nelson’s back line, notably from captain Billy Priestly, kept them at bay.
LR held out until the 44th minute when a through ball by Lewis Brown found Max Cane who broke before George Chadwick pulled him down and the referee was given no choice but to dismiss Chadwick.
William Ludlow-Foster struck a low free-kick into the back of the net as a result and the Admirals headed into the break with a 1-0 lead.
Hosts LR have held a reputation for their second-half comebacks this season, however a slow start from the Yellows slowed the game down and Nelson took full advantage.
Owen Anderson broke on the wing and slotted a pass to the middle which found Cane who fired home a second for Nelson on 61 minutes.
The pressure was piling on for LR and worse was to come on 89 minutes when Moore was dispossessed allowing Nelson to break.
Cane’s replacement, Jack Doherty, repeated the pass into the middle which this time found prolific Charlie Frost who netted past Joe Bickerstaffe to raise the visitors’ tally to 3-0.
LR were able to grab a late goal back as a Kyle Robinson-Murray free-kick was destined for Lewis Adams, before a clumsy charge by the Nelson keeper, Chris Thompson, forced the referee to point to the spot, and Ryan Talbot slotted home four minutes into added time, but it was too little, too late.
Following the defeat, manager Dave Jones said: “Everyone knew it was an important game, I’m disappointed with the outcome, the performance levels weren’t great.
“Billy Priestly at the back for them is a man mountain, he wins everything and we didn’t deal with that in the right way.”
On the Chadwick red card, Jones added: “It’s a poor decision in the end, but it’s not an excuse. We’ve lost three home games and in every one we were down to 10 with 50 minutes to play.
“I promise you now that group will give 110 per cent in every game, you can’t sit there and feel sorry for yourself, whether the season ends in April or in the play-offs, this group won’t stop.”
LR next travel to Daisy Hill on Friday Night (7.45pm).
