DELIGHT AS 2 LATE GOALS SEE BEARS KICK OFF WITH VICTORY
CONGLETON Town won the first league game of the season in dramatic style with two late goals clinching a 3-2 home win over Squires Gate.
The visitors went in front in the North West Counties Premier Division game in the 18th minute from the penalty spot.
A handball in the area gave James Boyd the chance to open Squires’ account for the season and he made no mistake.
Three minutes later the Bears were level. A free kick into the box led to a foul in the area which resulted in a penalty and Aaron Bott drove the spot kick into the bottom corner.
Bott then hit the post but it was Squires Gate who retook the lead in the 70th minute. Boyd sent over a corner and Josh Westwood powered a header past Dave Parton. Bott had a shot blocked and just as it looked like time was running out Dan Cope found space in the area and rounded ‘keeper Jordan Gidley to slot the ball into the empty net in the 88th minute.
Congleton won it in the second minute of time added on. Tom Schofield sent over a cross and Jonathan Beaumont was there to nod the ball into the net to the delight of the home contingent.
SANDBACH UNITED began their First Division South league campaign with a 4-2 victory at Cheadle Heath Nomads.
Sandbach were ahead in the eighth minute when
Kieran Garner-knapper cut the ball back to Jack Hart and he slotted it into the bottom corner. They doubled their advantage seven minutes before the break when a Sean Moscrop corner led to Robbie Hatton netting with a diving header.
Cheadle pulled a goal back in the 50th minute when Harrison Cunningham headed a corner into the net but soon afterwards they were reduced to ten men.
It was Ashley Crank who saw red for bringing down Garner-knapper as he was through on goal.
Even so the ten men drew level in the 66th minute when Richard Tindall found the net from 30 yards.
Sandbach regained the
lead in the 75th minute when a Garner-knapper cross was bundled home by substitute Steve Jones. Jones was on the mark again to make the game safe three minutes from time when he hit a firm drive past Alex Fowell.
STONE OLD ALLEYNIANS were beaten 4-1 at Vauxhall Motors. Vauxhall began well and scored twice in the first six minutes. Only two minutes had elapsed when Michael Burkey scored with a near post shot and four minutes later Ben Holmes chipped the ball over ‘keeper Sam Amedu for the second. Both teams then hit the post before there was penalty drama in the 50th minute.
Vauxhall were awarded
a penalty which Amedu saved from Holmes but as the ball was cleared a foul gave them another spot kick. Glenn Rule took it that time and scored. Liam Hickson pulled a goal back for Stone in the 75th minute but Noah Robson made the final score 4-1 eight minutes from the end.
ALSAGER TOWN lost 3-0 at home to St Martins. Taylor James gave the visitors the lead a minute before half time and Ryan Malone added a second in the 65th minute. Connor Thompson hit the bar as the Bullets went close and they also had a goal disallowed for offside. James scored again in the 83rd minute to compound Alsager’s misery.
ABBEY HULTON UNITED were also beaten 3-0, at Cammell Laird 1907. The opening goal came in the 13th minute when a Jake Hulley cross was headed home at the far post by Colm Lynch.
He added a second goal two minutes before the interval after being set up by Rob Merrifield. The third goal in the 70th minute was a collector’s item. Abbey ‘keeper Joe Mellor cleared the ball downfield but Paul Bathgate volleyed the ball back from his own half and into the net.
ECCLESHALL’S scheduled home game against New Mills was postponed on Friday due to a positive Covid-19 test.