FA Vase Progress for the Bears

A superb strike from Paul Speed put the Bears ahead 10 minutes into the second-half, before Barrow drew back level with nine minutes to go.
With extra time looming, Cope scored from the penalty spot after being pulled back in the penalty area to fire Congleton into the next round of the cup competition.

Although it proved to be a frantic finale in Loughborough, it wasn’t until Speed broke the deadlock that the game sprung into life with both sides struggling to create openings in a competitive, but lacklustre first-half.

Barrow started the stronger of the two sides but didn’t really trouble Craig Ellison in the Bears goal, with Tom Morris making a couple of superb blocks to deny Barrow’s advances.

Dan Cope thought he had given the Bears an early breakthrough in the 10th minute, but the flag had already been raised for offside when the ball crossed the line.

It was the start of a frustrating first-half for Congleton with Cope twice seeing his shots comfortably saved by Barrow goalkeeper Andrew Simpson after getting into good positions behind the opposition defensive line.

Along with Cope, Joe Taylor-Mountford remained a constant threat and the attacking midfielder came close to finding the breakthrough just before half-time.

After seeing his shot from the edge of the area go just over the crossbar in the 37th minute, Taylor-Mountford went close again with his free-kick from the left going narrowly wide of the left post.

Half-time: Barrow Town 0-0 Congleton Town

Having ended the opening 45 minutes on top, Congleton continued where they left-off at the start of the second-half; producing the spark of brilliance the match needed 10 minutes after the restart.

In space, 30-yards out, Paul Speed unleashed a low driven shot towards goal which beat Simpson at full stretch as it nestled into the bottom left corner with precision. It might only be October but this could already be a goal of the season contender.

Now ahead, the Bears began to play with more confidence; Taylor-Mountford shot wide after good build-up play, before Simpson saved his shot when one-on-one, five minutes later.

At the other end of the pitch, Barrow continued to be a threat going forward with Tom Morris and Anthony Griffith sweeping up any danger in front of goal.

With 10 minutes left on the clock, Ellison needed to produce a brilliant acrobatic save to tip Aaron Ridout’s header from Dominic Watts’ free-kick over the bar.

Two corners subsequently followed; the second of which proved to be decisive. Ridout once again connected with the set play inside the box, but this time his header found the back of the net to equalise for the hosts with nine minutes to go.

Both teams continued to push for the winner with extra time looming, but, as Cope shot at goal in the final minute of normal time, he was pulled back by a Barrow player. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Up stepped Cope, who made no mistake from the penalty spot, firing past Simpson to send the Bears through to the next round of the FA Vase.

Full-time: Barrow Town 1-2 Congleton Town

Congleton Town XI: Ellison, Taylor-Mountford, Beaumont, Ryder, Morris, Griffith, Connor, Speed, Cope, Main (Williams 65’), Lorde (Adegbenro 60’)
Subs not used: Higham, McLellan, Peters, Fletcher, Burey
Attendance: 91