Squires Gate Football Club Match Report

squires gate football club

Match Report

Congleton Town 1 - 1 Squires Gate

Squires Gate slipped a place to ninth after a well deserved point against 4th placed Congleton Town team who were looking to stop a run of no win in 12 games.

With Squires Gate mid-week injury time winner against Padiham behind them Gate were in no mood to be beaten and keep their recent run of form going. With Gate's mid-week match winner Isaac Kusaloka having signed for AFC Fylde later in the week, Player/Manager Russ McKenna looked to re-shuffle his pack with Lewis Mayers and Andy Harvie coming into the side for the departed Kusaloka and suspended Bartlett.

It was the hosts who started brightly and put Gate on the back foot from the start going close on several occasions. Congleton's target man Rhead looked to hold the ball up and bring the rest of his team mates into the game with the impressive Ryan Baker looking to supply the pass that could unlock Gate's solid defence.

With Gate soaking up the early pressure it was their midfield engine Paul Ryan that started to push Gate forward with his tireless running and determination. On 13mins Ryan went close for the visitors with his shot from 20yds.

The usually lively Bennett once again looked to dazzle the defence with his quick feet and forced Congleton's defenders to bring him down on several occasions. It was Bennett who broke from the half way line with Paul Ryan racing 30yds to catch up with the striker who got caught in two minds and Gate's chance was gone.

On 20mins Congleton's Ryan Baker picked the ball up wide right and delivered a teasing cross right across Gate's 6yd box with the grateful Rhead happy to tap the ball in from 2yds with Speight unable to deal with the ball into the box.

Congleton's next chance came 5mins later when Baker fed Rhead once again and the striker went one on one with Speight who this time came out on top. Congleton created several other half chances but Gate were able to deal with what was thrown at them.

Not just happy to sit back and soak up the pressure, Gate also looked to press forward themselves but were unable to go close despite several good opportunities from several set pieces. The half time interval saw Congleton happy to be leading 1.0.

Gate started the second half in buoyant mood and the livelier of the two sides, Mayers had the their first real chance of the half when he cut inside from the right flank and unleashed a powerful 25yd strike that caused the hosts keeper to parry the ball back into the area and Gate were able to mount some good early pressure.

Gate seemingly dominating the second half now looked to put Congleton on the back foot, the hosts recent run of bad form seemingly playing on their minds. Gate's Andy Richards put over the bar from 12yds when he latched onto Dave McCann's ball into the box after 67mins.

Gate's young full back Thomas showed their desire to get something out of the game when he broke out from inside his own half and drove forward playing the ball to Bennett wide left who cut inside his defender and unleashed a shot at goal from 20yds that forced the keeper to save low with his feet.

Bennett then received a caution for what the ref deemed to be a dive when he looked to take on his marker with the Congleton defender probably glad to see the back of the tricky striker. It was Bennett who once again went close on 81mins.

In the 84th minute as Gate were camped in Congleton's penalty box, a long clearance by the hosts defence into Gate's half saw skipper Tom Benfield play a delightful first time ball to Andy Richards wide right who controlled the ball and with his next touch delivered the ball into the box with Gate's right back Dave McCann having made a run from his right back position meeting the cross with a diving header from 10yds to score the equaliser.

Congleton looked to hold on as Gate pressed for the win although it was not forthcoming and the game ended in a draw. Gate's afternoon performance pleased Player/Manager Russ McKenna whose side have taken 4 points out of 6 against two very strong sides in the league.

Gate go into their next two games knowing that they will have to be at their best as they visit Bootle on Tuesday night and then face Newcastle Town at home on the Saturday with the visitors seemingly unstoppable having won 23 out of 23 games played in the league.

Team: Speight, McCann, Benfield, Ford, Thomas, Richards, Osborne, Ryan, Harvie, Bennett, Mayers.

Att: 119

Match Photos December 12th 2009

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