Bears at Silsden

[Kevin Lawton]

From The Sentinel (24/4/09)

CONGLETON TOWN: Striker Andy Hurst has joined the elite company of Bears players who have scored four goals in a game.

Hurst did his damage in Tuesday's 5-1 win at Runcorn Linnets and, according to joint-manager Anthony Buckle, he could have had a couple more.

Hurst pounced on a fumble by the Linnets keeper for his first, chipped him for the second, lobbed his third and spun a defender before firing home the fourth.

Buckle said: "They were four good finishes in what was a very good team performance.

"Andy has had a lean spell of late, but he has been working for the team and it was only a matter of time before he got his reward."

The victory – Congleton's best of the season away from home – enabled them to leapfrog Newcastle into third place and Buckle said: "Our aim now is to win our remaining three games to put pressure on those teams who can catch us."

Congleton visit Silsden tomorrow without Ryan Stewart, but Mark Fitton, who has been laid low by tonsillitis, could be fit.

Other Congleton players to have scored four goals in a game in recent years are Darren Washington, in a 6-1 home win against Rossendale in February 1993, Dave Shaw, in a 5-2 home win against Newcastle Town in September 2002, and John McAllister, in a 6-4 home win against Formby in March 2006.

[Kevin Lawton]

Going to the game so will, hopefully post updates during the match

[Kevin Lawton]

35 mins 0~0

[Kevin Lawton]

Ht 0~0

[Kevin Lawton]

Bears with most of the play

[Kevin Lawton]

Hadrell goal 52

[Kevin Lawton]

Final score 1~0 bears

[Kevin Lawton]

Match report from the Silsden perspective:

The “Vodkat” North West Counties Football League Premier Division 2008-09
Saturday April 25th 2009
SILSDEN AFC 0 v 1 CONGLETON TOWN FC
Att. 83 Haddrell 52.
NETTLETON SUPREME BUT THE BEARS TAKE THE POINTS
The final home game of the season for the Cobbydalers ended in a disappointing defeat at the hands of in-form Congleton Town. The margin was narrow and the result was in doubt until the final whistle. Richardson’s cross-cum-shot in stoppage time deceived Conkie in the Bear’s goal but landed on the crossbar.
Congleton had entered the game with a run of seventeen games in which they suffered only one defeat, and that was by the Cobbydalers! The run, which has taken them into third place, revolved around the two strikers, “The H Bombs”, Haddrell and Hurst. Since the end of January, Matt Haddrell has netted fifteen goals and Andy Hurst twelve. Facing them were James Nettleton and Martin Bland at the heart of the Silsden defence. It was a compelling contest: the power of Bland and the guile of Nettleton against the invention of Haddrell and the instinctive reactions of Hurst, who in midweek had notched four against Runcorn. Haddrell it was, who netted the only goal, when for once Foulger was the last line of defence. It was hard on the keeper who made a string of outstanding saves.
The Bears were soon on the attack with Baker shooting over the bar, before Bland blocked Haddrell’s close range effort. Nettleton then made his only mistake of the game. He tried to usher the ball out for a goal kick but Hurst stole in and cut inside along the goal-line. It was a narrow angle but he still managed flick the ball past Foulger, but also beyond the far post.
At the other end, Hollindrake shot low and hard but Conkie gathered the shot and sent the ball up the left. Haddrell and Hurst played a one two to create space but Foulger was swiftly off his line to block Haddrell’s shot. Nesbitt was pulling the strings in midfield where the Bears were moving the ball in neat triangles, despite the tricky surface. A ball in from the right was deflected but Hurst changed his body shape in an instant to get in a volley, which just cleared the bar. Two more efforts were blocked in the Silsden area before Haddrell flicked his effort over the bar.
When Millington headed back across goal, Foulger, at full-stretch, managed to finger-tip the ball for a corner. Hurst looked certain to latch on to Nesbitt’s through ball but Nettleton read the situation and intercepted the ball. Tulloch broke past Thompson and Barker and sent over a peach of a cross which Foulger punched clear before the keeper saved from Baker, following a marauding run down the right.
Silsden, despite the willing efforts of Bentham and Hird, had been pushed back by the quicker movement of the Bears and it was late in the half before they managed to break free. Hollindrake broke forwards down the right but Thompson lost control on the edge of the box. Congleton had had virtually all the play but it was Silsden who nearly took the lead on the stroke of half time. Harry Thompson cut in from the right and slid the ball across goal. Danny McNulty hadn’t been picked up as he ran across the goal area. His sharp volley was heading for the net until Conkie launched himself to push it wide. McNulty had another shot save before an injury forced Dave Morgan to substitute him at the interval.
Lewis Barker almost volleyed the ball into his own net at the start of the second period. Silsden were then put under pressure when Bland lost possession. Nettleton, who was running alongside Hurst towards Foulger’s goal, saved the day. Brotherton had hit a long ball over the Silsden defence but Nettleton pulled it down with consummate ease and to cap it all turned and launched Silsden onto the attack. When Bland was beaten in the air by Haddrell, substitute Barraclough headed clear.
Congleton maintained the momentum through some one-touch football involving Bostock, Nesbitt and Hurst but the decisive goal came more as the result of a hopeful ball. HADDRELL got ahead of Nettleton and Bland leaving Foulger as the last line of defence. Foulger rushed off his line but the Bear’s marksman out jumped the keeper to head home from fifteen yards out.
Silsden’s response was swift. Hollindrake picked the ball up near the penalty spot but was quickly closed down. With some swift footwork he laid the ball into the path of the advancing Thompson. Conkie saved the shot at point blank range.
Congleton took their foot off the gas a little but Silsden couldn’t take advantage. Too many passes went astray. Foulger did hit a long ball which King (on for Reilly) tried to take, but Vickers ushered him away before Packer replaced Bentham. A deep free kick by the substitute was almost headed home by Bland and then King set up Thompson. The winger cut past three defenders but his shot didn’t match the build up. Finally Richardson’s effort landed on the bar. It would have been hard on the Bears, who, but for some excellent goalkeeping and defending from Silsden, would have won more comfortably. It had been an engaging contest.
The Cobbydalers end their campaign away at Formby on Saturday.

SILSDEN AFC, Foulger, Barker, Richardson, Nettleton, Bland, Thompson, Bentham(Packer), Hird, Reilly(King), Hollindrake, McNulty(Barraclough) Sub. dnp. Thorpe,
CONGLETON TOWN FC Conkie, Vickers, Bostock, Brotherton, Fitton(Dundas), Nesbitt, Baker, Millington, Hurst, Haddrell(Marrow), Tulloch(Short). Sub. dnp. Twigg

[michelle]

How unusual to have such an unbiased honest match report, not of the usual the ref robbed us, we deserved something, we were unlucky etc etc.

Well done to whomever at Silsden wrote it.

[Kevin Lawton]

... and The Sentinel's version

CONGLETON Town remained in third place by gaining a slender advantage away at Silsden.
Matt Haddrell scored the only goal of the game after 52 minutes and joint-manager Anthony Buckle said: "We played quite well on a dusty pitch and did enough to win.
"Matt Conkie made a couple of good saves, but we had a lot of possession and Silsden never gave us much trouble.
"Once the goal went in, it was game over. Ryan Baker hoisted a high ball into the box where Matt Haddrell got his head on the ball to beat the keeper as he challenged.
"Silsden played a dangerous game in pushing up to catch us offside, but our quality in the final third was not good, otherwise we might have scored more. But it was still a good win."
Congleton finish with home games against Bacup Borough tomorrow and Colne next Saturday.
Buckle said: "If we are to have a chance of finishing third we need to win both games."

[b0b]

After many years i have been taunting this forum, but today is the day it ends. I claim to be an Alsager Town fan, in fact i am far from it- i never have been to an Alsger game. Why would i support a side that gets outclassed by many sides in the non-league radar. I have abaused Congleton Town and expressed my hatred towards Congleton but none of this is really true. I have always had a soft spot for Congleton and always look out for the results hoping that their is a win for the bears.Congleton seem to have had a fantastic season under Amtony Buckle and hats off to you. I am hoping to go to Booth Street in the near future to enjoy Congleton football. I notice a lot of corking games at the booth street .e.g. 5-0 against Ashton and also 5-2 against Maine Road. And that's just off the top of my head. A real chance next season maybe to get promotion if you keep hold of your manager and the players such as Hurst and Hadrell etc.

You may ask why i have taunted this forum for years, the answer is i don't no. At first it was a bit of fun for myself and in the end it has become out of control. Maybe i have too much time on my hands.

One final thing to say that i am very sorry too have plagued this forum. I now hope to go Congleton games and become a real football fan and produce some constructive comments.

Regards,

b0b

p.s UP THE BEARS!! And good luck for the final two home game.

[michelle]

OMG, is this for real or someone logging in as bOb?

[b0b]

Apr 27, 2009 15:34:35 GMT @b0b said:

After many years i have been taunting this forum, but today is the day it ends. I claim to be an Alsager Town fan, in fact i am far from it- i never have been to an Alsger game. Why would i support a side that gets outclassed by many sides in the non-league radar. I have abaused Congleton Town and expressed my hatred towards Congleton but none of this is really true. I have always had a soft spot for Congleton and always look out for the results hoping that their is a win for the bears.Congleton seem to have had a fantastic season under Amtony Buckle and hats off to you. I am hoping to go to Booth Street in the near future to enjoy Congleton football. I notice a lot of corking games at the booth street .e.g. 5-0 against Ashton and also 5-2 against Maine Road. And that's just off the top of my head. A real chance next season maybe to get promotion if you keep hold of your manager and the players such as Hurst and Hadrell etc.

You may ask why i have taunted this forum for years, the answer is i don't no. At first it was a bit of fun for myself and in the end it has become out of control. Maybe i have too much time on my hands.

One final thing to say that i am very sorry too have plagued this forum. I now hope to go Congleton games and become a real football fan and produce some constructive comments.

Regards,

b0b

p.s UP THE BEARS!! And good luck for the final two home game.

Nice try, junior. I'd be embarrassed if my spelling was so poor! How old are you, twelve? My five year old can spell better than you!!

[Beechy]

Welcome back our very own venomous Victor Meldrew. Think I prefer your vile, than some illiterate doppleganger!!

[polar]

Bob, yes your spelling is perfect, but the colour of your car; now that is worrying!!!!!