CONGLETON Town were outclassed by Northwich on Tuesday night as they went down to their fourth defeat in a row.

They lost 2-0 away in the Cheshire Senior Cup, and had keeper Richard Mottram to thank for keeping the score down.

Mottram produced six superb saves to keep the Bears in the game, three of them one on ones.

The Bears lost 2-1 on Saturday at home to newly-promoted Silsden.

"Northwich are three divisions above us, and are top of their division," said Congleton press officer Ken Mead.

"They were a very classy outfit, and it was a good performance from us to keep it to 2-0.

"We owed much to the brilliant keeping of Mottram, who made a string of top class saves."

Northwich striker Brayson put his side ahead on 34 minutes when he fell over as he tried a shot, but prodded the ball home while on the ground.

He scored his second a minute into the second half with a drive past Mottram.

Silsden took the lead nine minutes before half-time courtesy of a lack of communication in the Bears' defence.

A free kick from midfield into the Congleton box looked to have been wasted.

However as Riley tried to head the ball away he succeeded only in flicking it into his own net as Mottram came to collect the ball.

Silsden went close to a second when Hedges seized on Wynne's poor control and hit a snap shot at Mottram.

The Bears missed a golden chance to draw level at the start of the second half.

Howard was brought down in the box, but saw his penalty kick saved.

An unmarked Hoyle made it 2-0 on 68 minutes.

The ball was headed across to him, and he fired past Mottram from 10 yards.

Congleton's goal came eight minutes from the end when the Silsden keeper tried to clear.

Howard raced up to steal the ball as the keeper released it, and rolled it into an empty net.

Congleton travel to Newcastle Town tomorrow and Atherton LR next Tuesday.