RELEGATION stares Congleton Town in the face after two devastating defeats in the space of four days.

The Bears went down 4-2 on Tuesday at Matlock, following a 3-2 defeat on Saturday at strugglers Workington.

Congleton are eight points adrift of Gretna at the bottom of the table, and 11 behind Guiseley, with two teams due to go down.

The Bears can still mathematically escape the drop, with seven games left to play, including five at home.

However the prospects of staying up are very slim, bearing in mind their failure to beat teams just above them in recent weeks.

''Despite our position we are still going to give it a go,'' said Congleton treasurer Ken Mead.

''There is also the possibility that no-one will be relegated because clubs due to go down will not meet the standards required by the league.''

Congleton made a dream start on Tuesday night when they took the lead on 16 minutes.

The game saw the debuts for Peter Davenport and Jimmy Quinn, the latter rising at the far post to head home a corner.

Matlock equalised on 32 minutes when a free kick was deflected onto the post and bounced out to O'Reilly, who tapped it in.

Congleton felt hard done by with Matlock's second on the hour.

They claimed a goal kick, but the referee blew for a corner, which was played to the far post, where Taylor hammered home a half volley.

Matlock made it 3-1 on 69 minutes when no-one closed down O'Reilly, and he drove the ball in from 25 yards.

John Paul Jones gave Congleton hope with a 76th minute header from a corner, only for Matlock to make it 4-2 in the dying seconds.

Workington took the lead on Saturday on 21 minutes, but Congleton drew level six minutes later when Peter Weston was pulled down by the keeper.

The keeper was sent off, and Darren Washington scored from the spot, leaving Congeton with a man advantage for 63 minutes.

The Bears took the lead two minutes before half-time when Tyrone Fagan lifted the ball over the keeper, but were stunned by two Workington goals early in the second half.

Nick Boothy put the ball past his own keeper on 54 minutes, and Workington scored the winner three minutes later.

*Congleton are at home against Harrogate tomorrow, and travel to Witton Albion next Monday.