Congleton Town

The Silk 106.9 Stadium, home of Congleton Town based in Cheshire and play their trade in Step 5 of the non league pyramid in the North West Counties Football League Premier Division. Nicknamed the “Bears” after the town’s history of association with bears. It’s another one of those rare Thursday nights and the first round of the Macron Cup which sees Rocester FC of the North West Division One South travel to Congleton.

The journey for me now across the pennines and what a lovely drive it is… Until the sun goes down anyway… And a struggle in a car with a small engine… Yeah it’s not the easiest of drives… After around 1 hour and 20 minutes, here I am parked up just outside the ground! £6 for this cup tie! Ambitious!

Kick Off! Congleton starting the better of the 2 teams so far… The League difference is definitely showing! 10 minutes in and Congleton get it out wide to the right to Will Buckley, he cuts inside on the edge of the box and shoots… Tom Pope tries to get there… But he can’t… He’s wrong footed the keeper who gets a foot to it when he should have collected it… Pope has turned away and Rocester clear but Congleton get it back on the right… A foul and Congleton have a free kick on the right wing, in comes the free kick… In towards Aaron Bott… He heads wide!

Great to see the Oldham boys in town again tonight in Andy, Jack and Jake! 13th minute and Congleton play it out wide to the right to Will Buckley and he drives into the box and he gets a cross in towards Daniel Needham at the far post totally unmarked… And he heads home!!! Congleton deservedly in front!! 1-0!! “Come on you bears!!” The Congleton faithful in good spirits now!!

1 minute later and Rocester get it forward for the first time in the game so far, they get it to the edge of the box and it’s played in, it comes to Tyler Barnes in the box to the left to shoot first time… Keeper tips it into the air and… He catches it!

Congleton continue to dominate the game here!! 28 minutes on the clock and Congleton have a corner, in it comes… Darren Chadwick gets to it… But he doesn’t get enough on it and Rocester clear for another corner, in that comes… All the way out for a goal kick. 2 minutes later and here come Congleton again, it’s played to Will Buckley on the right and he gets into the box… He’s brought down! Penalty!! Definite Penalty for me! Good decision! Just too quick for the defender there. Darren Chadwick steps up… And scores!!! 2-0!! “Come on you bears!!” There it is again!!

43rd minute and Congleton come forward again, it’s played in to Jordan Johnson in the box, he cuts back and plays the ball to Will Buckley who cuts inside and gets his shot away… Good save!! The keeper tips it wide for a corner, in it comes… It’s Tom Pope with the header… Headed away by Rocester. Congleton go in at half time 2-0 up.

Second half, Congleton continue to dominate this game here! Rocester… No answer! 52 minutes now and Congleton play down the left wing, it’s crossed in, it comes to the back post to Will Buckley who plays it across to Tom Pope who shoots… And he scores!!! 3-0!! As the saying goes: Feed the Pope and he WILL score! 3-0! And you know what comes next… Or maybe not this time… No come on you bears this time sadly…

Congleton continuing to dominate this game with Rocester struggling to get out of their own half, it’s becoming a case of how many will Congleton score tonight sadly for Rocester. 75 minutes played and Congleton have another corner, in it comes… It’s headed off the bar!! So close! It’s headed away but Congleton retrieve it, they work it into the box and it comes to Tom Pope… FEED THE POPE AND HE WILL SCORE!!! He’s done it again!! 4-0!! “Come on you bears!” There it is!!

2 minutes after and here come Congleton steaming in again! Abel Tsegay drives forward and gets his shot away from the edge of the box… Good save!! The rebound falls to Jordan Johnson… He’s skied it!! Should have been 5 there!

85th minute and Congleton come again, it’s played to Tom Pope on the left, it’s played across the edge of the box and the shot comes in… Blocked… Was it off a hand there…? Referee has given a corner… Looked a certain handball there from Rocester’s Harry Bickerton but he’s got away with it like the late Mike Reid once said! In comes the corner… Keeper catches… Congleton not happy with the decision there and I wouldn’t be neither!

2 minutes later and Congleton come forward with Daniel Needham, 25 yards out and he shoots… Off the post!! Congleton get it back in the box on the left, it’s played across low… It’s an own goal… Harry Bickerton couldn’t keep it away from his own net and it deserves to be 5-0!! Congleton continue to pile on the pressure but it would stay at 5!

FT: Congleton Town 5-0 Rocester

Ratings

• Atmosphere: 3/10 – Not too loud but they certainly are a good bunch here at Congleton! On a different day you can tell it could be louder for sure!!
• The Ground: 9/10 – I was surprised how nice it really was! Stands at all angles with a nice bar! And I love all the signs at the ground!! A lot of effort has been made here by the people of Congleton!
• Expense: 9/10 – £6 is no problem but it wasn’t the best of games as it was more of a training exercise for Congleton.
• Overall Experience: 6/10 – A decent night out! Great to see the Oldham boys once again along with a few other hoppers tonight! I just wish the game was a bit more competitive…

27/40