Bears beat Abbey Hey

The first half proved to be one of much frustration for the home side as they failed to create any real openings. Both sides started in similar fashion with the ball being lost far too readily. The visitors looked the most composed on the ball and did pass it around well, while the Bears were finding too many passes going astray.

Strong play between Billy Hasler-Cregg and Mini Adegbenro led to a couple of corners, both being dealt with comfortably. Foster got his head to one corner but could only glance it over the bar while at the other end Craig Ellison in the Bears goal was in control, dealing with a few half chances from the visiting forwards. Adegbenro almost played in Steve Foster on the half hour but over hit his pass and the keeper gathered easily.

From an Abbey Hey corner, Tom Morris rose superbly to head clear under pressure then a mix up in the Bears defence led to a half chance as a snap shot hit the Bears side netting. Morris was then booked after bringing to a halt a strong Abbey run on goal.
The final chance of the half fell to John Main who saw his shot go well over after a corner was pinged into the box.

Half time Congleton town 0-0 Abbey Hey

The Bears needed to pick up their game in the second half and it started brightly with Adegbenro winning a corner in the opening minute which was played short then fired in, only for a strong defensive boot to bang it up field. Matt Jamieson then had a great chance as a free kick was played in but he just failed to get his head to the ball at the near post. A rush of blood by the visiting keeper saw him charge out of goal only to find Paul Speed but his long range effort went well wide.

On 56 minutes the Bears were awarded a free-kick 35 yards out. Speed stepped up and played a great ball to Foster on the edge of the six yard box. His header gave the keeper no chance and the Bear were one up.

Hasler-Cregg was next to get a chance as he controlled a long ball into the box but fired wide on the volley. Abbey Hey should have had an equaliser on the hour when a free-kick into the Bears box was left by the defenders and a free-header at the far post went wide. Ellison then came to the Bears rescue from a free-kick on the edge of the box, saving high at the far post under great pressure.

The game was opening up and Hasler-Cregg played Speed in but the keeper was equal to his well struck shot.

The Bears went two up on 78 minutes, Foster again finding the net. Ellison hit a superb long ball out of the box, Foster ran on to it as it beat the defence, the keeper came out but saw the ball lifted over his head and into the net, an excellent finish.
This gave the Bears breathing space and the introduction of Dean Warburton and Saul Henderson added more control as they went looking for the third. They had to wait until the 85th minute. Adegbenro battled well to win the ball and played a defence splitting pass to Henderson who fired low to the keeper’s right, 3-0.

The visitors got a consolation goal on 90 minutes, Watling battled well on the left and fired across Ellison and into the far corner, 3-1.

Team: Ellison, Peters, Disney, Jamieson, Morris, Griffith, Hasler-Cregg (Stephens 77), Speed (Warburton 64), Foster, Main (Henderson 57), Adegbenro
Unused subs; Cope, Williams
Attendance 120, Bears Man of the Match: Steve Foster
This weekend the Bear travel to deepest, darkest Yorkshire to take on Silsden in the Premier League.