CONGLETON FORCED TO SETTLE FOR POINT ON ROAD,

CONGLETON TOWN are third in the North West Counties League Premier Division after being held to a 2-2 draw at Barnoldswick Town after leading 2-0. The Bears were awarded a penalty a minute into the second half, but Jordan Gidley saved Tom Pope’s spot-kick. Congleton did take the lead, though, in the 58th minute through Jordan Johnson.

Two minutes later it was 2-0 as Pope made up for his penalty miss by chipping his ninth goal of the season over Gidley from just outside the area. Barnoldswick were back in it 60 seconds later when Brad Knox played the ball to Sam Braithwaite and he finished well.

Congleton were reduced to 10 men in the 69th minute when Peter Williams was shown a straight red card after late challenge.

Oliver Jepson was then sinbinned for 10 minutes to leave the Bears with nine men for a spell and Barnoldswick drew level in the 80th minute, Kasom Shah scoring with a powerful shot into the top corner.

The home side then hit the post, but Congleton held on for a point.

In Division One South, STAFFORD TOWN moved up to eighth after a thrilling 4-2 victory over SANDBACH UNITED at Evans Park.

Callum Chapman hit the post early on for Sandbach, but it was Stafford who took the lead in the fifth minute. Josh Wilson sent over a cross and Ryan Taylor finished from eight yards. It was 2-0 in the ninth minute when a mistake in the Sandbach defence allowed Taylor to pick his spot.

Sandbach reduced the arrears five minutes into the second half when

Robbie Hatton hit the post and Amir Hajri scored from the rebound. Stafford regained their two-goal lead in the 74th minute when Josh Oultram headed home a Taylor cross.

Four minutes later Sandbach set up a thrilling finish by making it 3-2, as Billy Buckley sent over a good cross which was flicked home by Sean Moscrop. Sandbach poured forward for the equaliser, but keeper Sam Amedu kept them at bay.

Stafford made sure of the points deep into time added on when Morgan Payne scored their fourth goal. ALSAGER TOWN won a remarkable game 3-1 at Stockport Town in which the home side were shown four red cards, two of which were after the final whistle.

The Bullets took the lead in the 17th minute when Joe Thompson scored