CONGLETON Town put their relegation worries behind them on Saturday to continue their history-making run in the FA Trophy.

The Bears earned a place in the fourth round of the competition with an excellent and well-deserved 2-0 victory over Gresley Rovers.

Congleton created a series of scoring chances, and their goals came in a thrilling second half of end to end play.

The home victory over their Doctor Martens Western Division opponents booked the Bears a tie at Worksop on February 3.

''It was a terrific result for us, and a deserved victory,'' said Congleton treasurer Ken Mead.

Gresley were looking to impress their new manager, John McGinley, brought in after a bad run of results.

The first half was a fairly tame affair, with both sides on their guard and few clear chances.

Gresley winger Gardner tested Congleton keeper Micky Allison with a shot early on, and the Bears' first opening came on 10 minutes when Paul Bowyer headed a free kick wide.

Gresley came close in the 20th minute when Tucker beat the defence and drove a ball across the face of the goal.

It bounced off Allison to Broadhurst, but the keeper recovered to push away his shot.

Allison made another important stop when he dived to keep out an effort from Tucker.

Congleton had the first chance of an action-packed second half when Rod Thornley shot wide from the edge of the area on 47 minutes.

Six minutes later Bowyer stuck a leg out in a bid to connect with a corner, only for the ball to hit his shin and fly over the top.

The Bears took the lead on the hour as Graham Dodd and the Gresley keeper raced for the ball.

As the keeper tried to block it the ball bounced wide to John Borg, who shot home into the top corner from 12 yards.

Thornley shot wide two minutes later, and the nearest Gresley came to scoring in the second half was a shot Allison pushed wide.

The Bears' keeper tipped a shot fromn Tucker over the bar on 70 minutes, and Thornley raced past a static defence and the keeper on 84 minutes to seal victory.

Congleton travel to Workington in the league tomorrow, and are at home to Chorley next Tuesday in the League Cup.