RELEGATION favourites Congleton Town went down without much of a fight on Saturday to remain rooted to the foot of the table.

The Bears created few decent scoring chances in their 3-0 home defeat against title contenders Stocksbridge Park Steels.

The defeat against their fifth-placed visitors leaves Congleton two points behind Radcliffe Borough and six adrift of Kendal Town.

''It didn't look as though we were going to score all afternoon, and we didn't trouble Stocksbridge,'' said Congleton treasurer Ken Mead.

''They were solid and too strong for us, and our play was unimaginative.

''I would expect some new faces to be found before the transfer signing deadline of March 31, and some of our players need to raise their game and be more consistent.''

Congleton made a promising start, with two early chances falling to Darren Washington, which he put wide.

Stocksbridge took the lead in the 16th minute with a soft goal from the Bears' point of view.

Congleton cleared a free kick to the wing, where a curling cross was whipped in for striker Hurlstone to score with the faintest of touches.

The Bears went close shortly after when Rod Thornley hit a volley into the keeper's arms.

Stocksbridge replied with a five-man passing move which ended with Hurlstone skimming the bar with a drive.

The visitors scored near half-time when Micky Allison knocked the ball into his net, but it was ruled out for a foul on the keeper.

Congleton made a disastrous start to the second half, going 2-0 behind a minute after the restart.

The ball was played over the Bears' back four, and Hurlstone hit a dipping volley over Allison from 12 yards.

Stocksbridge sealed victory with a third goal on the hour, centre half Fearon connecting with a cross to head in from six yards.

Mark Donnelly for the Bears headed into the keeper's hands, and Peter Weston hit a volley over the bar.

The nearest Congleton came to scoring was near the end, when a goalbound John Borg shot hit a defender on the shin, and the Stocksbridge keeper palmed away a Weston shot.

Congleton travel to Farsley Celtic in the league tomorrow.