Ex-Bears prove the difference as Bears bow out of Cup Semi-Final

The game got off to the worst possible start for the Bears with goals from former Bears Gardner and Koral in the opening ten minutes making a difficult task, just about impossible, and so it proved. First Gardner hammered a shot past Ellison in the Bears goal then five minutes later former Bear Pritchard’s shot was parried into the path of Koral who fired home. 2-0 1874.

It was now a damage limitation exercise as the Bears looked to restore some pride and that is what they did, never really giving up and creating a number of chances. On 13 minutes a cross found Adegbenro, he turned the defender and crossed but the ball was blocked as was another chance from Hasler-Cregg shortly after. A succession of Bears corners all proved fruitless as the home defence stood firm.

The Bears were having plenty of possession but just couldn’t make it count. Several balls into the box were over hit and gathered easily by the home custodian.

Half Time 1874 Northwich 2-0 Congleton Town

Jamieson replaced Stephens at half-time for Congleton.

The Bears had a good chance in the opening minutes of the second half. A shot from Foster was pushed around the post and from the resulting corner, Hasler-Cregg shot from the edge of the box but the keeper clung on with Main looking for the rebound.

An unusual incident in the 57th minute saw the referee go down injured and he had to be replaced by his senior assistant, whilst an additional qualified official was sought from those present, one being duly found so the game could continue.

Griffith hit a good ball in towards Adegbenro but is was cleared just in time and Warburton shot high after good play between Speed, Hasler-Cregg and Morris. The Bears brought on Donnelly for Speed with fifteen minutes to go and the game began, inevitably, to drift towards full time.
There was still time though for Adegbenro to get in a shot just over the bar and have another effort blocked. Hunter came on for Hasler-Cregg with ten minutes to play, although there were 8 minutes of added time due to the referee’s injury. In the dying minutes both keepers made good catches from shots and then the final whistle drew the contest to a close, with the Bears having given a decent account of themselves over the 90 minutes of the second leg.

Team: Ellison, Stephens (Jamieson 45), Speed (Donnelly 75), McLellan, Morris, Griffith, Hasler-Cregg (Hunter 76), Warburton, Foster, Main, Adegbenro

This was “Mission Impossible” for the Bears after the drubbing in the first leg, but to give the team their due, they never really gave up and pushed throughout the 90 minutes for a consolation goal.

All minds now focus on the remaining league games and hopefully a best ever third place finish, with the top two, City of Liverpool and Bootle now out of sight, but Northwich Vics breathing down the Bears necks. One piece of good news was Vics only drawing at home to Burscough on Sunday afternoon (though the Bears have still to visit Burscough – this weekend!!!)