It’s another important promotion clash this weekend when fourth placed Congleton Town visit Keys Park to play third placed Hednesford Town on Saturday 1st March.
The Pitmen are undefeated in their last 10 league games winning seven and drawing three while The Bears have won five of their last ten, drawing just one but losing four including their last three at home to Witton Albion and Atherton Collieries and away at Avro. Their home form has the edge over their away results as they have picked up 32 points at the Cleric Stadium from ten wins, two draws and four defeats compared to 24 on their travels from seven wins, three draws and six defeats, The losses coming against Runcorn Linnets (0-1), Wythenshawe (1-3), Nantwich Town (2-3), Witton Albion (2-5), Widnes (1-5) along with the aforementioned 2-3 reversal at Avro. This gives them a grand total of 56 points from 32 matches with a GD of +13 while Hednesford have one more point from the same number of games with a GD of +27. Both sides have shared the goals around this season, Hednesford’s leading league scorers are Manny Duku, Dom McHale and Dan Trickett-Smith who are all on ten followed by Jack Bearne on nine while for Congleton Max McCarthy has 14, Daniel Needham 12 with Peter Williams and George Sankey both on ten. It was Williams’ penalty that separated the sides back on Bonfire Night when Congleton won 1-0 in Cheshire. Former Pitman David Parton was in goal for The Bears that night and has made 29 appearances for the club this season although he hasn’t featured since Boxing Day. He played 14 times for Hednesford in the 2015/16 National League North relegation season.
Once again manager Gavin Hurren is expecting another hard game, “Congleton have been excellent all season and their manager deserves a lot of credit for the job he’s done. They are in the play-offs for a reason”. Several first teamers played part of the Development Squad’s 8-0 win over Paget Rangers on Tuesday night with Zidan Sutherland (3), Jake Jervis (2), Jacob Gwilt and Josh Endall all scoring and Abdulrasaq Aalamu-Tajudeen and Kory Roberts also getting some much needed time on the pitch. Sion Spence and Elliott Johnson should be available but long term absentees Rob Stevenson and Jack Rose will be missing along with Omar Holness and Ollie Harrison who begins a two match suspension.
Kick off on Saturday is at the usual time of 3pm with gates opening at 12.30pm. Admission will be £11 adults, £8 concessions/ disabled with carer, £3 10-18, free for U10s but all under 16s must be accompanied by a paying adult. Tickets can be bought via the Fanbase app or by cash/card at the appropriate turnstile.
