A minutes silence was observed before the game for Bears long time supporter Frank Worrall who passed away recently.

They started the game on the front foot and pushed forward well in the opening minutes, Rick Peters having a shot just wide and then Ollie Ford with a strong run, beat the defender, passed to Ryan Hibbert whose cross was headed just wide by Liam Moran under pressure from the defender. Billy Hasler-Cregg then picked out Moran but his shot on the volley went wide.

The home side continued to press, Emini Edigbenro and Ford linked well before the former saw his shot go wide.

The visitors almost tool the lead on 23 minutes but Danny Eccles got down brilliantly saving a low snap shot, the on the half hour Adegbenro found himself in space from a Hasler-Cregg cross but his shot was straight at the keeper. Squires Gate finished the half the stronger and Eccles had to be at his best again when a mix up in the Bear’s defence opened up a chance but he was equal to it.

The Bears had had lots of possession but hadn’t actually had a shot on target.

Half Time 0-0

Gate opened the second half on the attack and from a free-kick, Eccles was once again the Bears saviour with a great point-blank block.
Moran continued to push up front and caused problems for the visitors defence, while Hasler-Cregg and Adegbenro were getting down the lines well, but there was no end product.

On 65 minutes the Bears won a free-kick on the edge of the Gate box, Tom Morris stepped up to take it but his effort went well over the bar – which summed up the Bears afternoon.

Hasler-Cregg was getting frustrated as things just wouldn’t go the Bears way and he was shown a yellow card on 80 minutes when this came to the fore.

Bears Sub John Main was put through by Edigbenro and as the keeper raced out he hit a low shot which the keeper just got a stud on to divert for a corner.

The only goal of the game came on 80 minutes. Squires Gate won a free-kick out wide, Harries took it, found O’Mahoney at the back post, he knocked it back in and sub Charnley fired his shot low into the net.

Congleton looked for an equaliser in the closing minutes but just couldn’t find an opening

Full time Congleton Town 0-1 Squires Gate

Team: Eccles, Stephens, Peters, Groom, Morris, Ford, Adegbenro, Hibbert, Moran, Bath, Hasler-Cregg
Subs: O;Reilly (64), Main (64), Martin, Cavanagh, Pritchard

Attendance 108

With a whole string of regulars missing this was always going to be a difficult game for the Bears and so it proved.

The Bears now have three home games on the run starting with Ashton Athletic this Saturday then Abbey Hey the following Saturday finishing with Padiham on Tuesday 13th March.

Report by Kevin Lawton