STALYBRIDGE CELTIC FC 3, CONGLETON TOWN FC 1
(NPL Division One West)
With their current form questionable, an awful display on Saturday at Nantwich and virtually the worst away record in the league, the Bears travelled to Stalybridge to play the Celtic, a team sitting high in the league with a 5-1-2 record.
Last season, recently relegated from the Premier Division, Celtic ended the season in sixth position despite losing 3-1 and 2-0 to the Bears (ITALICS writes Mike McLaughlin).
Stalybridge is a town similar in size to Congleton, in Tameside, eight miles east of Manchester, and 56 miles from Congleton.
Its football team plays at Bower Fold, a ground with two grandstands, seating for 1,300 and an overall capacity of 6,500.
On Tuesday evening, amidst a fine drizzle, 472 bodies rattled around the open spaces.
The adjusted Bears team read Parton, Bates, Liptrott, Williams, Brisley, Chadwick (C), Knapper, Hartshorn, McCarthy, Hampton and Needham. Allen, Beamon, Stair, Sankey and Badjie sat on the bench.
The Bears began brightly, with noticeable determination.
An immediate Knapper run was blocked.
Liptrott crossed and a McCarthy shot was blocked.
On five McCarthy was unceremoniously flattened by an aggressive keeper.
The Bears were pressing hard.
The home side battled back, on 15 building a promising move from which a curling shot from wide was fumbled by Parton and dribbled over the line: 1-0.
Chances then appeared at both ends.
McCarthy broke strongly and a powerful shot flew marginally high.
Parton saved well.
A surging attack, a jink inside, and a sharp shot struck Parton’s post.
Chadwick was crudely and heavily fouled.
By 33, Stalybridge had already accumulated three yellow cards.
The Bears were winning corners and good position but efforts on goal were erratic.
McCarthy was prominent, working hard to good effect.
On 45 Chadwick tangled with an attacker in the area and a penalty was awarded.
It was struck superbly, flying past a helpless Parton – 2-0.
The Bears won another corner. Shots from McCarthy and Hampton were blocked desperately.
It had been an energetic half, both teams having their moments. The scoreline felt unrepresentative of play.
Impressed
Stalybridge impressed initially without creating anything dangerous.
The visitors came back strongly.
A searching Knapper cross was handled in the area and McCarthy battered his penalty through the keeper on 59.
The Bears were establishing considerable control, attacking relentlessly.
A Bates cross was mishandled and McCarthy was so close to capitalising.
A slick move ended with Hampton winning yet another corner.
Needham and Hampton gave McCarthy an opening only for him to loft his shot.
A brief pinball session in the home area ended with the ball over the bar again.
Despite the pressure, the home side startled the Bears on 83 and Parton excelled with a double save.
A Hampton piledriver brought a wonderful save from the Stalybridge keeper.
Hartshorn went close with a low shot.
The equaliser was there, waiting, but it wouldn’t come.
On 90, in the course of mounting yet another assault, the Bears lost possession. The home side sped away, a lofted ball put an attacker in space to run at an exposed Parton and curl a neat shot around him and into the net. Devastating: 3-1.
It felt unjust, unfair that after a good, sound first half and a dominant second, the beleaguered Bears were left with nothing and had conceded three goals.
The Stalybridge press summation was interesting, almost bizarre.
Congleton were bluntly described as “one-dimensional”, and “more intent on getting set pieces than going for goal directly”, but wayward headers “left them empty-handed. Free-kicks were well defended”.
It was fascinating, the stuff of some good, vigorous football debate.
Manager Richard Duffy said that, on the night, he couldn’t fault his players. They had been great. They had created many chances. It was very frustrating. The first half had gone according to plan but goals had been conceded. In the second half his team had been brilliant. He spoke of positive “building blocks”, but the harsh reality was that his team had lost again.
