NATHAN Cotterell scored twice in the opening half-hour to set Winsford United on a course to a fifth successive win.

Blues protected their lead in relative comfort for the remainder.

The wide man netted his first goal of 2017 after only 35 seconds, steering the ball under goalkeeper Luke Raybould after Kyle Riley had spotted his run on the right.

A second followed when his blast from the edge of the penalty area, after James Rothwell’s corner was cleared into his path, sailed into the net aided by a deflection.

In between, former Colne front man Jay Hart fired narrowly over before than prompting Winsford custodian Matthew Green to make a smart save.

He seemed certain to score when left alone in front of goal, only to miss the target.

Blues might have added to their tally when defender Will Foster’s snap-shot was blocked before Riley and Jordan Johnson, recalled after returning from a holiday, both forced Raybould into action.

The visitors survived a scare shortly before the break when Green miscued a free kick.

However Hart was denied a chance to halve the Admirals’ arrears by a linesman’s flag.

Winsford continued to create chances in the second period, when Cotterell’s shot was blocked and Sam Parr’s goal-bound header was diverted to for a corner.

Rothwell’s appeals for a penalty, after Duckworth’s corner reached him, were ignored by referee Chris Porter.

Danny Hudson made his first appearance September when he replaced Johnson for the final 20 minutes, bringing to an end a lengthy injury lay-off.

Nelson |Raybould (GK), Dunroe (O’Neill 46), Anderson, Sharples, Collinge, Smith, McKenna (Chea 46), Lloyd (Dufty 78), Hart, Cummings, Burns Sub not used Towers

Winsford | Green (GK), Perry, Duckworth, Kerr, Parr, Foster, Moores (Scott Taylor 53), Rothwell, Riley, Johnson (Hudson 69), Cotterell (Howell 86) Subs not used Collins, Jack Taylor Goals Cotterell 1, 27

Referee Chris Porter

Attendance 95