Last-gasp agony (From Warrington Guardian)

Last-gasp agony

CONGLETON Town felt hard done to on Saturday as they went down to a last-gasp winner at Booth Street.

The league match against fourth-placed Curzon Ashton looked to be petering out to a draw when the visitors struck.

Several minutes into stoppage time Birch latched onto a loose ball 22 yards out, and fired in a low drive through a crowd of players.

The ball squeezed in at the foot of the post to give Curzon all three points.

"For long periods we held the upper hand, although that is not to say that Curzon were not threatening at times," said Congleton press officer Ken Mead.

"However there were enough chances for us to have put the game out of their reach.

"In the end the mystifying seven minutes of additional time gave them the chance to snatch all three points right at the death."

The defeat leaves Congleton sixth from bottom, but well clear of the basement sides.

The Bears started strongly on Saturday, Curzon keeper Fish making a good save to tip over a shot from McAllister.

Congleton were incensed that nothing was given when they claimed Krupa's free kick was deflected clear by a Curzon player's arm.

A shot from Moore from 18 yards went straight at Bears keeper McCormick, and Congleton had a good chance following a mistake by Fish.

His miskick under pressure was chested down by McAllister, but his snatched shot went wide.

Fish pushed a goalbound shot from Baker over the bar near the interval, and a shot from Skellern crashed against the post.

Skellern headed wide at the start of the second half, and Moore fired over from the edge of the area.

Congleton had another good chance to take the lead through Skellern, whose shots were blocked in a goalmouth scramble.

Fish reacted quickly to stop a ball dropping in just under the bar, and Waine hit an excellent drive for Curzon from 25 yards, which whistled past the post.

Norton should have given Curzon the lead on 83 minutes.

He found himself in space on the end of a good cross, but he side-footed a volley from 10 yards over the bar.

A few minutes later Houghton broke down the right, and as the defenders backed off hit a shot with flew just over the bar.

Congleton travel to second to bottom Formby tomorrow and Atherton LR next Tuesday.