Away run put to the test with local derby at Congleton
As derbies go, this really is one to look forward to. The teams, while familiar to each other, are not so well acquainted that a stalemate is likely.
Famous last words maybe but you suspect there’ll be goals in this one. They’ll be bang up for it and so will we. No quarter will be given.
The game comes at a great time for both sides. In a league season that has been full of surprise packages – exhibits A and B being Vauxhall Motors and Widnes in top spot and second place respectively – Congleton having only been promoted from the Midland Football League last season, are riding high in fourth.
There’s no doubt that this is likely to be our biggest challenge on the road yet. But you don’t get to be eight matches in the league unbeaten away from home for no reason. Our Cheshire hosts will know they’re in for a battle.
While we will respect our opponents for what they have achieved, we’ll be heading to the Cleric Stadium tomorrow going for a win that would take us above our hosts and into the play-offs. There’s a lot at stake.
The last two seasons have seen an extraordinary rise for The Bears. And some of that incredible rise had its foundations in an FA Cup tie against us a couple of years ago. It came in the second qualifying round.
Having snuck a late equaliser in the first game at home, we travelled across the great Staffordshire/Cheshire frontier full of hope.
That hope increased when Jake Lovatt and Ethan Vale put us 2-0 up on the night. That was until Arron Johns, who was on as a substitute, completed a 15-minute hat-trick to send the Bears through. Our season never really recovered.
Congleton’s home game in the third qualifying round with Fylde was broadcast by the BBC and come April of that season, they arguably went on to even greater things, reaching the semi-finals of the FA Vase only to lose out on penalties to that year’s champions Newport Pagnell.
Promotion followed last season, and they continue to impress under the management of the former Welsh international and Port Vale player Richard Duffy, whose full-blooded commitment is very evident in his players and the team’s approach.
We go into tomorrow’s game in great form. Three wins in our last four have taken us to the verge of the play-offs and even in defeat at home to Hednesford, we played very well and still carried a threat.
Tuesday felt like a big moment for us. Our home results haven’t been great this season and we were staring down the barrel again trailing 1-0 to Clitheroe.
Then your favourite farmer and mine turned it around, and all of a sudden we’re flying up the table.
Let’s not get too excited though. Sod it yes, let’s get too excited as you never know when it’s going to come round again!
Come on Castle!