Second half heartbreak for Daisy Hill
Despite building an early two goal lead, Daisy Hill eventually fell to a 4-2 defeat at Nelson on Saturday
A second half comeback by promotion chasing Nelson sent Daisy Hill tumbling to a disappointing defeat in East Lancashire on Saturday, after an incident packed clash in the North West Counties League First Division North.
Against a Nelson side sitting joint-top of the table, Liam Sheppard struck twice in the opening six minutes to give Daisy a two goal lead that stunned the home crowd into silence.
But after Nelson’s Ben Fyles pulled a goal back midway through the first half, the game turned in their favour when Daisy were reduced to ten men four minutes before half time, when Daisy's Joao Soares was shown a second yellow card.
Daisy held out until the 65th minute when former Daisy captain Connor Hughes levelled the scores, and two late strikes from substitute Max Cane sealed victory for the visitors.
Despite the disappointing end to a game that started so brightly, there were positives to take from the game in which Daisy built a two goal lead in a frantic start to the game, courtesy of two terrific strikes from leading scorer Liam Sheppard.
In the 4th minute, he seized on a slack pass back to race through on goal, round the keeper and roll the ball into the net from a tight angle.
Within two minutes he had doubled the advantage, when Harry Forshaw won a challenge in midfield and played a pass into the path of Sheppard, who smashed home a terrific 30 yard shot that ended up in the back of the net off the underside of the crossbar
Nelson did find the back of the net in the 14th minute when former Daisy striker Connor Hughes side footed home from close range, but he was ruled offside by the assistant referee.
Four minutes later, Daisy striker Sheppard almost claimed a remarkable early hat trick, when he outpaced the Nelson back line to set up a shotting chance that Nelson keeper Chris Thompson blocked with his legs.
However, Nelson got a foothold back in the game on 25 minutes, when a ball driven low into the box was deflected towards Fyles, who tucked the ball inside the far post.
The game continued to flow from end to end, and eight minutes before half time, Daisy thought they had restored their two goal advantage when Kris Holt tucked away Dec Baldwin’s free kick, but the celebrations were cut short by the flag of the assistant referee.
Four minutes before half time, Daisy were reduced to ten men when Joao Soares was shown a second yellow card, and although Daisy were comfortable in the early stages of the second half, their resistance was finally broken on 66 minutes, when a close range header from Hughes levelled the scores.
Three minutes later, Joleon Moore had a great chance to put Daisy back in front, but effort was well blocked by Nelson keeper Thompson.
But the introduction of Nelson striker Max Cane 13 minutes from time proved to be decisive, as he scored with his first touch of the ball seconds later, firing past Jude Smith from eight yards to give his side the lead for the first time.
In stoppage time, Cane put the game out of reach for Daisy with a fourth goal, when he slotted a low shot past Smith after a through ball down the middle had caught out the Daisy back line.
