Perspiration but no inspiration for Bears

CONGLETON TOWN FC 0, AVRO FC 2

(Division One West)

League points were of the essence on Saturday after a dismal start to the season for the Bears.
Languishing close to the league basement and all five away games lost, home points were vital, at least for the moment.
Opponents were old foes Avro, from Oldham, a team whose origins lay in the famous aircraft manufacturers, Avro. Formed in 1936, they were promoted to the NPL in 2023.
Last season they finished in seventh place, beating the Bears 3-2 at Oldham, but losing at Congleton 2-1 in the league and 3-1 in the FA Trophy, (writes Mike McLaughlin).
Today they occupied fourth place in the table with a 5-3-2 record. On a good run of results, they demolished Clitheroe 4-0 recently and arrived at The Cleric buoyant and bullish.
The sun was beaming bright and warm, a clear blue sky only slightly sullied by spidery vapour trails.
The U10 Yellows enjoyed their run-out in front of the main stand.
A good crowd of 660 looked on, doubtless appreciative of the rich, green sward that stretched in front of them. All hail the grafting groundsmen.
The team was announced as Parton, Bates, Beamon, Williams, Brisley, Chadwick (C), Knapper, Hartshorn, McCarthy, Gillam and Needham. Stair, Badjie, Allen, Barton, and Duffy were listed as on the bench.
The Bears began upbank, into a bright sun.
The game opened with neat attacks building from end to end.
On six Gillam was sent through but his pull-back was quickly smothered.
A minute later a long pass across to the left seemed to shred the home defence, leaving an Avro striker in the clear. He scored easily past a totally exposed Parton, 0-1.
A stunner.
Both teams were settling to play constructive, thoughtful football, the visitors thriving, moving the ball sweetly in midfield.
Gillam was showing well on his return to action, finding space with quick, shrewd movement.
On 17, however, the home side inexplicably ceded possession in deep central defence and Parton had to sprawl to save the day.
Minutes later another defensive slip again left him vulnerable.
On 24 Bates and Needham built along the right but Knapper’s header was wide.
The game continued relatively quietly, although exhibiting plenty of sharp, tidy football.
The Bears were a curious mix of the neat and the naff, conceding possession repeatedly to an alert opposition.

XHEAD
Edge
Avro were gratefully capitalising, gaining an edge.
The home side’s midfield was not functioning effectively.
On 36 Williams briefly sparked with a long pass to Bates, forward on the right. Gillam, unfortunately, headed his cross marginally high.
On 41 Gillam burst clear to the byline and fed Needham, supporting just inside him, only for an awkwardly bouncing ball to thwart his effort at a shot.
Avro came back hard, attacking strongly, dangerously.
A low cross flew in from the right, Parton somehow blocking the point-blank shot.
The Bears ended a pleasant half of football with a couple of attacking freekicks but it had been Avro who had been, for most of the time, the more coherent, convincing side .
The Bears reopened with an early corner.
The routine almost delivered, Chadwick’s first header blocked, the second only narrowly over.
A freekick followed, once again the header high.
Avro regrouped They signalled intent with a lovely right wing move on 49.
On 51 they won a corner.
The referee busily resolved a brief bout of grappling in the area.
The ball eventually arrowed across and an unchallenged towering header bulleted into the net – 0-2.
Absolute textbook stuff.
At times almost soporific, the game now picked up pace, both teams threatening, but the home side were still unable to flow, beginning to look anxious and flustered. They were too loose, gaps appearing all over the midfield.
Avro looked confident, composed and calculated.
Parton had to save well again, on 62.
Working hard, the Bears had developed some momentum by 70 but their attacks were often scrambled, sloppy affairs.
In contrast, on 71, Avro took a throw in, a quick swivel and a veritable missile skimmed the bar with Parton an onlooker.
Too many Bears looked out of touch, ineffectual and almost aimless, in contrast to their more confident, dynamic and potent opponents.
The home side were certainly not lacking effort but little was working.
They pressed but didn’t really threaten.
Added time came, there continued to be lots of movement towards the Avro goal, but little worthy of note.
The Avro manager was delighted with his team’s efforts and their current run of form as they ride a wave of confidence and success. All was well in the club, talented youngsters coming regularly through the ranks he enthused.
He was surprised, and very pleased, to hear that his team had just moved to the top of the table.
In contrast, Bears’ manager Richard Duffy, was thoroughly downcast.
His team simply hadn’t been good enough, had been “schooled “ he said.
A few things needed to change, they needed to defend better as a team, to be better all-round.
Doubtless there will be much thought, discussion and effort put into resolving the current predicament by staff and players.
Supporters can only theorise and speculate on what they see on the pitch, and continue to turn up and encourage their team.
They have been doing so in hearteningly significant numbers, confident that the proverbial corner will soon be turned.
(Photo: Ell Treanor Photography).