Ashton Ath 0-1 Congleton

[Kevin Lawton]

Beeston 43 mins

attend 59

[CollieDog]

An excellent first half from the Bears, and a one goal lead at half time was the least they deserved. Mark Beeston capped of a beautiful passing move when half-volleying the ball home on the turn from 10 yards out after Andy Hurst headed back across goal from a cross into the box.

The second half was far more even with Ashton doing most of the pressing. Long range efforts from outside the box were the best they could muster though, with nothing to unduly worry Matt Conkie.

Nontheless, three more points and a move into 2nd place in the table.

Although last night's narrow victory came with no small price.

Andy Hurst was injured midway through the second-half and despite a brave attempt to run the injury off, had to succumb to the pain and limped off. Andy Kinsey played about 10 minutes, having come on as a substitute on 62 minutes, before he too was forced to retire after an attempted shot was blocked at close range.

With all the substitutes used, Kinsey's retirement left the Bears fielding 10 men. That was reduced to 9 shortly before the end of the game when goalscorer Mark Beeston was shown his second yellow card in 5 minutes, when he clashed in a 50-50 challenge with an Ashton player who had to be stretchered off, eventually being taken to hospital via ambulance.

The sending off decision was very dubious. the referee saw the initial clash, allowed play to continue for around twenty seconds, until Congleton put the ball out of play for the injured Ashton lad to get attention, and then on seeing the extent of the injury, called Beeston across before producing his second yellow card, followed immediately by the red.

From where I was standing it was a 50-50 ball with both players going in hard, but fairly. Personally I think that's how the ref originally saw it too. That said, no-one wants to see a player get injured and we wish him a speedy recovery.

As far as Congleton are concerned, with no Griggs, Kinsey or Hurst, who will be up front for Saturday's FA Cup tie? Tulloch & Dundas is my guess.