Bears thump Nostell in The FA Cup

The Bears made the 90 mile trip to Wakefield to face Nostell Miners Welfare in their FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round replay last night.

The match finished goalless when they met on Saturday despite Congleton missing some excellent chances. The only change to the side that finished that game was Andy Alston replacing Lee Jackson with Kieron Kenny moving to left-back.

Congleton started brightly and should have been in front inside the opening minute. Eder Ruiz's long ball behind the Welfare defence found Scott McGowan through on goal but his half-volley was wide of the target. Welfare had their first chance soon after as Lee Turner played through Billy Mole but he couldn't hit the target either.

The Bears won a couple of corners, one of which was delivered to the front post by Sam Marshall. Declan Fletcher's header rattled the outside of the post and went behind for a goal kick. The striker didn't have to wait much longer for his next chance as he broke the offside trap from Scott Sephton's through-ball before calmly going around Ben Saynor and slotting into the open net. It only took 17 minutes to break the deadlock after 90 minutes without a goal on Saturday.

McGowan almost added a second but shot wide after doing well to hold off Blain Kellett. Welfare then had some chances to draw level although Matthew Johnson's attempt from 40 yards rolled tamely wide. Anthony Lee's chest down for Turner to strike forced Andy Farrimond into a good diving save. The Bears keeper then parried Fidel Mhlolo's shot into the air before Louis Johnson headed it behind under pressure.

Fletcher could have had a second goal but Saynor stopped him getting past at the expense of a corner. Ruiz's delivery found Marshall at the back post but the winger's header was blocked on the line. There was plenty of Congleton pressure with McGowan trying an audacious chip from outside the box that went just over the bar. Fletcher thought he'd scored his second as he controlled Sephton's long pass and fired into the net, only to see the offside flag deny him.

Welfare ended the half with a couple of half-chances; Mole found space to shoot round the edge of the box but Adam Bayley threw himself in front to block it. The resulting corner was headed over by Ryan Donoghue as the Bears held onto their lead at half-time.

Congleton showed no sign of slowing down after the break and continued to search for another goal. It only took 4 minutes as Ruiz sent a ball down the left channel for Fletcher to run onto. The striker cut inside and drove the ball past Saynor at his near post. It was only another 4 minutes before he completed his hattrick. Ruiz's corner caused chaos in the Welfare box and it was the Bears' number nine that managed to stab the ball across the line and all but secure their place in the next round. Fletcher was replaced by Chris Smith soon after with his contribution well recognised by the travelling supporters.

The Congleton defence remained solid and reduced Welfare to long range shots that gave Farrimond no trouble whatsoever. Alston in particular did a professional job of staying tight on the dangerous Lee and gave him no space to turn when he bought long balls down. Steve Wales had some efforts from distance, one deflected wide and another was a simple catch for Farrimond.

Marshall was another player that was excellent and he had the chance to net a deserved goal when Johnson tripped him in the box. Unfortunately he pulled his penalty wide of the left post. Brandon Moores replaced McGowan and used his pace to good effect up front. Soon after having one goal disallowed for offside, he raced through again and calmly slotted past Saynor with Donoghue unable to get anywhere near him.

The closing stages saw the game become more stretched with Welfare still trying to grab a consolation goal. Turner shot high and wide after some neat play from Lee in the area. Then Mole's ball across goal presented a chance for Lee at the back post but he was caught on his heels and couldn't get to it. Marshall had one final chance as he chased a long ball down the left before moving inside but hammered well over. It didn't matter though, the Bears were through.

The Bears will face Handsworth Parramore at the Richborough Estates Stadium in the Preliminary Qualifying Round after they overcame Staveley Miners Welfare 6-0. The tie will be played on Saturday 29th August. The Bears will also meet Nostell at home again, this time in the FA Vase on Saturday 5th September