The Bears welcomed Northwich Victoria to the Cleric Stadium in a game which saw the hosts make an array of changes to their starting lineup.

No centre backs were available for Richard Duffy who lined up with Mackenzie Faulkner, Lewis Short and Oliver Griffiths at the back.

Duffy was full of praise for his backline, which played a massive part in limiting the visitors:

“Amazing. Ollie has been out hasn’t played many games, Shorty hasn’t found himself in the squad lately and done fantastic. Obviously Mackenzie isn’t a centre half, so for them three to come in and do the job they’ve done today, the way they put their bodies on the line was fantastic.”

The encounter proved to be a game of two halves in terms of chances, with both goalkeeper’s not having anything to do before the interval. However, after the break, Congleton’s onslaught of pressure ensured a goal was beckoning.

The Bears thought they’d broken the deadlock early in the second half with Thomas Hampton being denied the opener due to what the referee believed to be a foul by Tom Pope in the build up.

Chances kept coming for the home side with Jon Beaumont firing over from close range on two occasions and Pope watched his glancing header whistle wide of the Northwich Victoria goal.

The visitors had chances of their own with Dave Parton being called into action to deny Matthew Dudley, before the striker then fired wide from only a matter of yards out.