CONGLETON TOWN 2, CHASETOWN 2
(after extra time. Congleton won 4-3 on penalties)
Congleton Town’s never-say-die spirit saw them book a place in the Pitching In Northern Premier League, West division play-off final in the most dramatic manner.
In a remarkable finale of twists and turns to their semi-final, the Bears somehow managed to get themselves over the line following a penalty shootout, though that only told half the story.
Congleton booked a place in the final at big-money club Hednesford on Saturday as their pinch-me journey under manager Richard Duffy continues.
Duffy guided the Bears back into the NPL 12 months ago after a 23-year absence and, far from simply consolidating at Step 4 on non-league, they have positively flourished finishing third and reach the play-offs.
It does help when Duffy has a defence which includes Carl Dickenson and Shaun Brisley, two players with considerable EFL experience, to add to his mix.
The match, played on a dustbowl of a pitch in front of a whopping crowd of 1,501, was forgettable for almost 86 uneventful minutes – literally nothing of note happened.
What happened from the juncture certainly made up for the barren fare that had gone before.
The deadlock was broken when Jack Langston fired the Scholars ahead with a well-placed half-volley low to the left of keeper David Parton.
For all intents, that looked like the winner until the Bears equalised in the 90th minute when a low cross from the left was swept home at the far post by Danny Needham as bedlam ensued as extra time was forced.
Congleton went ahead for the first time in the 103rd minute when striker Max McCarthy steered home a low shot into the bottom corner with Chasetown convinced it should have been ruled out for offside.
Chasetown were now chasing the game, and they made it 2-2 in the 111th minute when substitute Luke Yates steered home a shot across the face of goal from a right-wing cross.
There was still more drama as the Scholars had the chance to win the game in the 119th minute when Parton conceded a penalty for bringing down Sam Unitt but redeemed himself by keeping out the spot kick from substitute Danny Glover.
It all came down to penalties and Congleton struck the first blow when Scholars’ substitute Kris Taylor sliced their first kick well wide.
Captain Danny O’Callaghan had Chasetown’s fifth kick saved by Parton while Congelton netted all four of their penalties to make it a night which will long remain etched in the memory.