The game was played on the 3G pitch and was baked in the red hot sunshine, HDFC were the brighter starting side and controlled the early part of the game With chances falling to Steve Furnival and Danny Bentley early on but it was Congleton who took the lead from the pen spot after 26 minutes, Congleton continued to grow after they took the lead and HDFC were consistatnly on the back foot but HDFC are dogged in there play if nothing and brought the game level after a free kick was put into the box and Hayden Wright put the ball into the back of the net to get the teams level at the break,

Half Time Congleton Roves 1-1 HDFC

The second half began with the heat beaming down on the pitch and with both teams using the break to get cool it was HDFC that were still adjusting to getting back into the heat as Congleton took the game by the scruff of its neck and put their stmap onto the game and soon went 2 up from a well taken freekick the HDFC team were caught napping and the ball was put into the box and Congleton pounced to make it 2-1, soon after Rovers took advantage of the space been allowed to them and caught the HDFC stand in keeper off his line and managed to chip the ball in from the half way line for the second long distance goal to be conceded in the last 2 games, much to the hatred of the HDFC managers note book which was soon to hit the back of the HDFC dugout ! 3-1 to Rovers.
HDFC at this point could have dropped their heads and allowed the heat to take the blame for the goal but they showed a fight and resilience not seen too often from the team this season when in large loosing positions and they then grabbed the game back in control.
A lovely cross into the box was meet by the advancing Ryan Taylor for him to put in his second goal of the season for the Blues and give them a glimmer of hope.
Anything that now come at the HDFC back line was mopped up by Ryan and his defensive colleagues and sent back the other way towards the midfield partnership of Cory Johnson and James Sheldon who were solid in the middle of the park. Then a rare occasion a well worked corner routine allowed Danny Bentley the option to pull the game level and the fightback was truly on for HDFC, and with just 7 minuted to play Mark Tomlinson was put 1 v1 with the keeper and slotted in what HDFC has hoped was going to be the winner !!! BUT not to be.. Congleton sent everything at the HDFC back line and a ball slipped into the 6 yard box was pounced on by a rovers player and the ball nestled into the bottom corner for once again the gaffers note book to feel the full force of the ground.

Full Time Congleton Rovers 4-4 HDFC

Man of the Match Sponsored by Applied Radiators
Ryan Taylor

HDFC Manager Shaun Rogers

"A mixed emotions day once again for us, at 1-3 down these chaps could have given up and thought to themselves why should i bust a gut when others are not here, but that is not this group they thought for everything in that second half and the comeback was nearly complete but we just switched off right at the end"

"I could moan about the referee today as i felt he did us a harsh justice on the pen and also not giving us a pen in the second half when Danny was clearly fouled in the box not outside but some you get, some you dont i suppose"

"It was good to see Tayls back out there today and he rightfully won the man of the match today for his leadership at the back"

"I said to the chaps at the end i was proud of their comeback and me and the management team are, we have been down in games this season by a few goals and not come back like we did today so it was great to see it"

"We now have just the 4 games left and the next 2 are against the top 2, we go into both games with hopefully more of a stronger squad than today numbers wise, but we have if nothing proven we can fight and work to grind results out today when we are thread bare in numbers and this group have already proven this year not to write them off and i look forward to the next two challenges and hope we can give at least a good account of ourselves"

HDFC next travel to play Foley Meir Reserves on Bank Holiday Monday evening with a 18:30 kickoff