Cheadle Town 1-4 Congleton Town

It's over. All gone...but we enjoyed it nonetheless. Cup Month for Cheadle Town bowed out tonight with a 1-4 defeat at the hands of Congleton Town in the Cheshire Senior Cup.

A simple tale of two halves, this: first one to Cheadle, second one to Congleton, although it was our visitors that almost drew first blood when they saw a header from a corner cleared off the line after just 9 minutes.

Two minutes later and it was almost advantage Cheadle: a cross from the left saw Carl Buchanan sliding in only for his effort to rebound off the chest of the Congleton 'keeper. Cheadle went that little bit closer on the 12th minute when - after a legitimate penalty claim went unanswered - the ball fell to Deano who cracked his shot off the bar.

Two minutes later and that miss wouldn't matter as Johnny Hussain curled a left-footed beauty over the top of the 'keeper's head from the edge of the box. Admittedly with the help of the fortunate run of the ball, it was no less than Cheadle deserved for their efforts, with Dave Bennett in particular causing plenty of trouble down the right wing. One of his teasing crosses was to result in a disallowed goal on the 20th minute mark; Deano being flagged for offside after he smashed it into the net.

On the 38th minute, Adam Roberts stopped a certain Congleton goal when he slid in with a great saving tackle to ensure that Cheadle went in 1-0 up at the break.

Second half, cue Congleton as they took control and ran riot with a four-goal salvo. The only Cheadle effort to report in the second half was a 46th minute Deano chance that flashed across the face of the net.

Somewhat deservedly, Congleton drew level when a cross from the right was collected and finished off with a stinging shot over Atkinson's head. They then went ahead in strange circumstances on 62 minutes: a free-kick was swung into the area and met by the jumping Atkinson and a Congleton forward. Atkinson got a slight touch to the ball and everybody seemed to stop...except the ball that still managed to sail into the net; his claims of a foul went unheard.

Six minutes later and the tie was effectively over. Johnny Hussain lost possession in midfield and Congleton worked the ball forward, the final move being a headed ball to the right of the box that was slammed home with ease.

In between that goal and their fourth - an 88th minute Heath own-goal after a right-wing cross hit him - Congleton managed to hit the crossbar and so could have walked home with a bigger margin of victory, but that would have been harsh on Cheadle.

Special mention to the drafts from the reserves that played tonight: Scott Clarke - who we already know is a decent player - Rory O'Donohue and David Bennett who all played excellent matches tonight and look good prospects for first team inclusion again at some point in the near future.

Onto Saturday and league business, where three points are a must.

TEAM: Atkinson, Clarke (Heath), B Roberts, O'Donohue, A Roberts, Brocklehurst, Bennett, Buchanan, Riley (Brokenbrow), Martin, Hussain (Myers). Subs: Myers, Heath, Mellor, Brokenbrow