Match Preview: Congleton Town (a)

The first midweek test of the new season awaits this evening as Vauxhall Motors make the trip to Cheshire to face Congleton Town at the Cleric Stadium.

After opening the 2026/27 campaign with a 1-1 draw away at Prescot Cables on Saturday, the Motors are back in action just three days later as the first busy spell of the season begins.

The Motors took the lead at Prescot and looked on course to open the campaign with three points before the hosts found an equaliser. Despite having to settle for a point, there were plenty of positives to take from the performance, and tonight provides an opportunity to build on that encouraging start.

With the first midweek fixture of the campaign now upon us, Chris Herbert’s side will be looking to carry that momentum into another challenging away game and return to Ellesmere Port with all three points.

The Opposition

Congleton Town, known as The Bears, are another familiar face in the Northern Premier League West Division.

The club has been part of the Congleton footballing community since 1901 and plays its home matches at the Cleric Stadium, where a compact ground and passionate local support can make for a lively atmosphere.

Congleton are managed by Richard Duffy, who will be hoping to build on the work of last season and guide the Bears towards a more comfortable campaign this time around.

The summer has brought some changes to the squad as Congleton look to strengthen ahead of another competitive season in the West Division.

Last Season

Congleton endured a difficult 2025/26 campaign after finishing third in the division the season before.

The Bears finished 18th in the NPL West Division with 44 points, leaving them involved in a battle for survival for much of the campaign.

Their hopes went right down to the final day, but a 4-0 victory over Trafford at the Cleric Stadium, coupled with results elsewhere, ensured Congleton retained their place in the division.

They’ll be determined to put last season’s struggles behind them this time around and make a much stronger start to the new campaign.

Last Time Out

The last meeting between the two sides came in February 2026, when the Motors produced a memorable comeback to beat Congleton Town 2-1 at home.

The visitors took an early lead before the Motors turned the game around after the break, with Kevin Ellison scoring twice to complete the comeback and secure three valuable points.

Tonight’s meeting gives Congleton the opportunity to respond, while the Motors will be hoping for another positive result against the Bears.

The Challenge Ahead

The opening weekend provided the Motors with a point on the road, but there is no time to dwell on what might have been.

Tonight brings the first midweek fixture of the season and a different challenge for the squad. The ability to recover quickly, maintain intensity and perform consistently across a busy schedule will be crucial as the campaign progresses.

Saturday’s performance at Prescot showed plenty of encouraging signs, particularly in the way the Motors took the game to their hosts and deservedly took the lead.

Now the challenge is to turn those positive performances into victories.

A strong start to the season can provide plenty of momentum, and Chris Herbert and his players will be determined to come away from the Cleric Stadium with three points.

Match Information

📍 Venue: Cleric Stadium, Congleton

⏰ Kick-off: 7:45pm

🎟️ £10 Adults, £7 Concessions

The Motors faithful made the trip to Prescot in good numbers on Saturday and we’ll be hoping for another strong travelling support tonight.

It’s a Tuesday night in August. The season is up and running. There’s three points on offer.

Let’s get behind the lads.

Come on you Motors! 💙