AFC Liverpool notched up their first win of the pre-season so far, with a victory away to Nelson.

A commanding performance by AFC Liverpool saw them retain the Joe Fagan Memorial Trophy at Nelson, with all three goals coming in the first half.

The Reds saw Liam Coyne and Dean Thurston return to the starting line up, while Ryan Wignall made his first appearance of pre season. On a lush green pitch that was perfectly suited to AFC’s passing game, it took just nine minutes for Thurston to score the opener, collecting the ball outside the area before beating two defenders and lobbing the ball over Chris Thompson in the Nelson goal.

Nelson were easily kept at bay and didnt threaten the Reds goal, failing to take advantage of any of the corners they were awarded. David Ojapah, starting after two impressive goals as sub at Vauxhall a week earlier, made it 2-0 after 33 minutes, chipping Thompson who got his fingertips to the ball but only in vain. Just before half time Mark Bloxam struck the third being first to react after the ball had ping ponged around the box.

Derek Goulding made four changes in the second half, but significantly only one at the back, with Lee Mullin coming on for Bloxam. It meant the Reds defence remained settled and prevented Nelson from creating real more chances. The home side did manage a consolation fourteen minutes from time when a free kick from Luke Hargreaves took a deflection and deceived Paul Willis. Had Willis not touched another Hargreaves free kick round the post two minutes later the game may have had a much more frenetic ending but as it was it was played out uneventfully, with the Reds being deserved winners of the trophy.