Lawton brace leads Sandbach to a five-goal demolition of Congleton (From Crewe Guardian)

Lawton brace leads Sandbach to a five-goal demolition of Congleton

11:15am Friday 3rd February 2012 in More sport

Sandbach United 5 Congleton Town Reserves 1

SANDBACH maintained their pressure on leaders Crewe at the top of Cheshire Football League Division Two thanks to a resounding 5-1 hammering of Congleton Town Reserves.

They will have to switch their minds off the title race this weekend though, because they travel to Runcorn Town Reserves on Saturday in the hope of keeping their Challenge Cup bid alive.

They will hope to continue the clinical level of finishing shown at the weekend, which saw Sandbach hit five past a struggling Congleton despite missing first-team regulars.

Ash Lawton was the troublemaker-in-chief for Congleton’s back line, and it was he who put his side ahead when converting a cross from close range after a shaky start.

Their lead did not last long, Congleton grabbing the equaliser before the break to leave the game in the balance.

It was an emphatic change in the second half that worked in Sandbach’s favour, closing down more quickly and keeping the pressure on higher up the pitch.

This soon lead to them taking the lead for a second time, Paul Ryder heading back across goal for Kieran Coleman to make it 2-1.

It was one-way traffic from then on, Neil Bate latching on to nice work from Lawton to double their lead, before Callum Dolman added the fourth when nodding home a Craig Malbon corner.

Lawton then wrapped up the scoring, completing an excellent individual performance with a second goal to secure all three points for the title-hunting Sandbach outfit.