CONGLETON Town lifted their first cup for 70 years on Tuesday night with a memorable victory at Witton Albion.

The Bears beat Witton 3-0 in the Mid Cheshire Senior Cup final with goals at either end of the match.

The cup success is believed to be Congleton's first since the 1930s, and captain Andy Alston received the trophy from the chairman of the Mid Cheshire FA.

"It was a great evening, and the victory was very well deserved," said Congleton press officer Ken Mead.

"We were the better side on the night, and it sets us up nicely for this Saturday's League Cup semi-final second leg against FC United."

The Bears were lacklustre on Saturday as they went down 2-0 at Silsden in the league.

However they were a different side on Tuesday night, Jordan Johnson putting them ahead after only nine minutes.

A corner was half cleared to the edge of the Witton box, and Johnson hit a dipping volley over the keeper and in off the bar.

Each side had a number of chances on the night, and Congleton made it 2-0 with seven minutes left.

Williams raced down the left, and hit the ball across the face of goal, where Chris Smith met it to sidefoot home from two yards.

John McAllister scored the Bears' third goal in stoppage time following another breakaway by Congleton.

Bears' keeper Forester had an excellent match, pulling off a number of vital saves, including a superb reaction stop from a point blank header to demoralise the opponents.

On Saturday Silsden should have taken the lead on 11 minutes when McNulty could only chip the ball into Forester's arms from four yards out.

Jones went close for Congleton on 32 minutes with a shot keeper Foulger parried off the line.

Foulger produced another excellent save near the interval to deny Courtney, blocking the striker's shot with his feet.

Silsden took the lead six minutes into the second half.

Thompson picked up the ball from a corner, and as the Bears' defence backed off him he drove into the box and fired past Forester.

Silsden wrapped up the three points on 74 minutes when a cross hit the bar and rebounded out to Dibb, who rifled the ball into the roof of the net.

The Bears travel to Gigg Lane tomorrow for the semi-final second leg, the tie level at 2-2.

They are at home next Tuesday to Bacup Borough.