CONGLETON Town stretched their unbeaten run to six games with two excellent league displays in the space of three days.

The Bears earned their first ever victory over Belper with a 2-1 win on Saturday, and followed that up with a superb 1-1 draw at Ashton United on Monday night.

The results continue the club's revival after their disastrous run of cup defeats, and has lifted them to mid-table respectability.

Congleton took the lead at Belper after only five minutes from a free kick, after Rod Thornley was brought down 20 yards out.

Chris Bermingham took the wind-assisted kick, which swerved round the wall and into the net to put the Bears ahead.

Thornley and midfelder Steve Callear linked up well on the half hour to double Congleton's lead.

Thornley was brought down in the box by a defender, and Graham Dodd scored from the spot.

Bears' keeper Micky Allison saved well in a one on one after two minutes, and kept Belper out with a great save five minutes before half-time.

Belper pulled themselves back into the match in the 58th minute when a corner skimmed off the Bears' Chris Woodward into his own net.

Allison pulled off a spectacular one-handed saved on 74 minutes as Belper pressed for the equaliser, and Congleton were lucky to survive a minute later when Belper hit the post.

''We deserved to win, and played some really good football,'' said Congleton secretary Dave Wilcock.

The Bears took the lead against Ashton six minutes into the second half when Thornley hammered home a shot after connecting with a cross from Dodd.

Ashton pushed forward, and were kept out in the 67th minute by an outstanding diving save by Allison.

The home side left broke through in the last minute, former Congleton defender Paul Clowes getting his head to a corner from one a yard out.

''We had the better chances, and it is a mark of how far we have come that we were disappointed at not coming away with the three points," said Mr Wilcock.

''Graham Dodd is outstanding form, as is Paul Abbey, and Simon Calleart has been a great signing for us.''

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