With their biggest home crowd for several years Congleton Town were hoping to put last weekend's defeat at Litherland behind them, but the visitors Northwich Victoria had other ideas with two goals in each half seeing off the home side.

The Bears on loan Aaron Bott had returned to Leek and Kyle Diskin started in midfield with Johnathan Beaumont making his first start since injury up front.

The Bears faithful didn't have to wait long for the opening goal. A superb through ball by Diskin after seven minutes saw Arron Johns fire first time past Hale in the Vic's goal.

Northwich then upped the pressure and won a succession of corners, with David Parton in the Bears goal tipping inswingers over the bar.

The third corner was played in by Kilfilin, perfectly onto the head of Barski who glanced the ball into the net, 1-1.

Kieran Brislen was working hard out on the right and he put in several dangerous crosses but no one could connect. Former Berar Saul Henderson made a dangerous break, Josh Ryder brought him down and earned a yellow card.

The Bears then had a dangerous attack stopped when Dan Cope was brought down outside the box, the referee waved play on, Vic's moved the ball up field and won a corner. One again Kilfilin took and Barski swooped down low to head in at the far post. 1-2.

Brislen continued to cross well and one of these caused panic in the Vic's defence with the keeper flapping and the defender just getting a boot in to clear.

The Bears continued to push and Beaumont was inches away from connecting on one and Sam Freakes fired one over. The half closed with Beaumont finding Cope, but the striker couldn't capitalise.

Half Time Congleton Town 1-2 Northwich Victoria

The Bears started the second half well and Cope put in a good cross which was inches too high for Beaumont to connect and then Diskin found room on the right but fired his shot over.

On 52 minutes the game turned against the Bears, Cope had a fierce shot which squirmed under the keeper and rolled towards the goal line, Hale just clawing it back.

The ball was pumped up field, Lynch collected, beat two Bears defenders and slotted in at the bear post giving Parton no chance, 1-3.

Beaumont should have pulled one back minutes later but once again fired over. It was game over on 63 minutes. Henderson chased a long ball on the left, crossed low, Camozi beat Parton to the ball and fed Lynch who shot into the empty net. 1-4.

Camozi should have made it five, minutes later, but fired wide with the goal, at his mercy. Horrocks wasted another Bears chance with yet another shot over the bar from inside the box.

Eventually the Bears got one back, it was Arron Johns again, running on to a through ball and finishing superbly, 2-4.

The final few minutes saw more Bears pressure and in one move Barski was inches away from firing into his own net, corner instead, and cleared.

In added time Ryder went down after a collision of heads that looked nasty, the referee decided he had had enough and blew for full time, Ryder eventually being helped from the field.

Full Time Congleton Town 2-4 Northwich Victoria

The Bears wasted far too many chances, shooting high several times when well placed, whilst Northwich took their chances well.

Team: Parton, Brislen, Bridge, Ryder, Morris, Horrocks, Diskin (Pickerill 84), Freakes (Taylor-Mountford 71), Cope, Beaumont, Johns

Attendance 495, Bears Man of the Match Aron Johns