Macron Cup Success for the Bears at Stone

By Kevin Lawton

The Bears put their recent good run to the test at First Division South side Stone Dominoes in the Macron Cup. Recent signing Saul Henderson was cup tied and several others were on the injured list.

From the first whistle the Bears were on the attack and created numerous early chances; Steve Foster just failing to connect with a Dan Cope cross, Tom Schofield and Mini Adegbenro earned successive corners and Rick Peters was pumping dangerous crosses in to the box. Foster pulled out a superb save from McCarthy in the home goal, who tipped the shot over the bar. Cope was just inches away when his shot scraped the outside of the post., then a Foster through ball saw Cope in action again, this time the keeper got the block in.

Stone Doms finally got a chance but the shot went into the side netting. Despite having most of the play, the opening goal was eluding the Bears as time and time again they created openings but failed to find the net, Bevan Burey shooting over, Cope forcing more saves from the keeper and Peters long range effort being too high. Adegbenro thought he had the goal when he shot from just inside the box but another fingertip save turned the ball on to the underside of the bar and a defender cleared.

The goal finally came on 42 minutes. Schofield played a neat ball into the box to Cope who let fly from 10 yards, 1-0 Bears.

Half Time: Stone Dominoes 0-1 Congleton Town

The second half saw more and more Bears pressure, Adegbenro and Cope going close and on 53 minutes it paid dividends. Adegbenro played the ball through to Foster in the box, he beat a defender and then the keeper and shot from close range into the net. 2-0 Bears.

Matthew Jamieson then came close with a goal bound effort from a corner that was cleared off the line, and Peters forced a smart low save.

The third goal came on 66 minutes. A good run by Adegbenro on the right wing allowed him to cross into the box, Cope collected and his shot hit the bar, the ball spun off the defender and keeper and Foster was in the right place to nod the ball into the empty net, 3-0 Bears.
Craig Ellison in the Bears goal was rarely troubled all game and spent most of the time as a spectator, with his defence keeping the home side at bay.

The final goal came as added time approached. A ball into the home box rebounded off a Stone defender and Cope was there to turn and shoot into the net from close range.

Full Time: Stone Dominoes 0-4 Congleton Town

Team: Ellison, Stephens, Peters (Ryder 8o), Jamieson, Morris, Griffith, Burey (Disney 60), Schofield, Foster (Williams 70) , Cope, Adegbenro.
Unused Johnson, Cooke

This was a job well done by the dominant Bears. Who controlled the game from start to finish. Their reward is a trip to Abbey Hulton in the next round on 8th December.
This weekend the Bears travel to Irlam, who are on a good run of their own.