Daisy Hill were held to a 1-1 draw by Nelson at New Sirs, in their first home game of the season in the North West Counties League First Division North on Monday night.

Daisy got off to a great start with a Jamie Ramwell goal after just five minutes, but Nelson drew level eight minutes later when captain Jack Holt equalised from the penalty spot.

From then on, the game developed into a lively, competitive contest with both sides creating chances.

But in the end, both had to settle for a point, which Daisy assistant manager Tom Brown felt afterwards was a worthy reflection of the game.

“I think if you look at the game overall, you have to say a draw was a fair result,” said Brown.

“When we look back at the 90 minutes and pick certain elements out, I think the main lesson is that we needed to take our chances and score when we were on top in the first half. If that happens the game is different.

“We have just got to start taking our chances, because we know in football if you don’t take your chances, you will get punished. If we had taken one or two more of the chances we had in the first half, the game could have been buried.

“We said to the lads before the game about starting the game quickly, and we did, we started really quickly and could have scored before we did.

“I know it was a mistake by us again for their goal, which is disappointing, as that’s two mistakes in the two games on Saturday and Monday that have cost us goals.

“In the second half Nelson grew into the game and gained a bit more confidence, and they were the better side in the second half, there’s no doubt about that.

“So we’ll take the point and move on to Saturday.”

It was a game was played at a fast pace throughout, and Daisy started strongly and almost took the lead inside two minutes, when a long free-kick from Lucas Schofield aimed at the far post almost caught out Nelson keeper Zac Briggs, who had to back-pedal then leap at full stretch to claw the ball away.

But three minutes later Daisy did break the deadlock when an angled pass from Riche Makelele played Ramwell through on goal, and as Briggs raced out to narrow the angle, he clipped the ball past him from 25 yards.

Nelson soon hit back and after Teal Amos shot wide from the edge of the box, they drew level on 13 minutes from the penalty spot.

Joe Rodriguez went down in the box under a challenge from Daisy central defender James Phillips, and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty that Nelson skipper Holt converted comfortably.

Daisy keeper Morgan Newns was called into action shortly afterwards to save from Amos, and at the other end his side had two good chances as the game approached the half-hour mark.

Firstly, a poor clearance from a corner fell nicely for Henry Chalkley, but his well-struck effort flew over the bar from 20 yards, and then captain Adam Farrell was unlucky with a low drive that just missed the far post.

Six minutes before the break, a sweeping move involving Ben Howarth and Ryan Talbot set up another shooting chance for Farrell, but his shot was saved well by Nelson keeper Briggs.

After the break, Nelson had the better possession and several efforts on goal, although Newns was rarely forced into making a save.

However, in the closing minutes Daisy had a shout for penalty waved away after Talbot went down in the box after a challenge.

And deep into stoppage time, Nelson substitute Oliver Hodgson spurned a great chance to win the game for his side, when he volleyed just wide from a Holt cross with only Newns to beat.

Daisy are back at New Sirs again on Saturday for their next league game, with FC St Helens (3pm).