Atherton LR v Congleton

[Kevin Lawton]

From The Sentinel
Congleton travel to fellow Vodkat Premier Division side Atherton LR full of confidence after they went three points clear at the top of the table with Wednesday's 4-0 win at Flixton.

Andy Kinsey scored twice for the Bears, once from the penalty spot, while Ryan Baker and Simon Robinson were also on target.

Congleton drew 2-2 at home to the Atherton side on the opening day of the season, but joint manager Anthony Buckle said: "We created loads of chances and should have been five up at half-time.

"We are a lot stronger now than we were then, especially in the middle of the park, and will be going to Atherton looking to win."

Congleton are without Andy Bostock and Andy Hurst, but Danny Griggs eased his way back from a knee injury with a 20-minute outing as substitute at Flixton.

[Kevin Lawton]

Should be at the game - so twittering updates here:

www.twitter.com/Congletonfc

[Kevin Lawton]

A disjointed Bears performance.

Should have had a penalty in first 10 minutes - free kick outside the Atherton Box on the right, taken by Baker and an Atherton player in 'the wall' jumps up, with his hands crossed above his head and stops the cross - unbelievable decision by both refreree and linesman not to give it.

We created only a few half chances in the first half and Atherton finished the stronger with a few chances of their own - Conkie saving well in a one-on-one although it was his mistake that lead to it)

Atherton took the lead on 52 minutes with their first chance of the second half and it looked like it would be one of those days. Passes were going astray and too much ariel ball - being well dealt with by the Atherton defence.

Stuart Tulloch - on as a sub, was sent off after 70 (ish) minutes when an Atherton player pulled him back by his shirt and he then retaliated by chopping the offender down - he got red, Atherton player got yellow.

Don't feel the ref really protected our players as Atherton are a physical side. Danny Griggs was chopped down regularly, gaining free kicks but no yellow cards were shown not until he brought someone down and was 'yellowed' immediately!

The equaliser came on 88 minutes when Mark Fitton put in a bullet header from a corner.

Probably a draw was a fair result - though the Atherton fans were making out that the referee was from Congleton - a bit strange given his decisions all afternoon.

Replay is Tuesday at 7.45pm