NANTWICH Town ended their season in disappointing style with a 3-0 defeat at Congleton.

The hosts were desperate for the victory and ended their relegation fears against Steve Davis' men. But it could have been a different story had the Dabbers turned first-half dominance into goals.

And when a penalty from skip-per Danny Griggs after Melvin Daniels had been hauled down was easily saved, and Steve Webb headed off the line from Daniels, the signs were ominous.

Congleton made Nantwich pay 10 minutes after the break when Danny Jarrett failed to guide the ball out of play, allowing Steve Johnston to nip in and fire his side ahead from a narrow angle.

In the 70th minute, Matt Bradbury brought down Scott Williams just inside the penalty area and Dean Canning fired the penalty to give The Bears a 2-0 lead.

Bradbury was booked for his indiscretion and Jarrett's complaints to the referee also earned him a yellow. The former North-wich Vics man failed to take heed and he was shown a second yellow for his continuing dissent.

With the visitors' defence still reorganising, Neil O'Brien lost possession on the edge of the area and Williams took full advantage with a clever lob over Danny Reade to the back post, where Canning headed home his second.

Although there was never any way back for 10-man Nantwich, home keeper Phil McGing did well to palm away a blast from Griggs after Matt Blake had powered his way down the left. nAlsager Town narrowly failed to hit manager Greg Clowes' 70-point target as they earned a win and a draw in their final two fixtures against relegationtroubled sides.

Last Tuesday's 4-4 stalemate with now-bottom club Atherton Collieries is largely to blame for the club finishing on 68 points, rather than 70.

Although the side were 2-0 down at the hour-mark, a 10-minute spell featuring goals from Alan Fraser, Steve Grocott and Carl Espley gave them the advantage with 20 minutes left.

The visitors levelled matters but Wayne Brotherton nosed Town ahead on 76. But Lucas completed his hat-trick with seven minutes left on the clock to frustrate Clowes.

Saturday's game was marred by trouble on the pitch and on the terraces in Town's 2-1 over Formby at Fairview Avenue.

Alsager took the lead in the opening 60 seconds when Fraser's cross found Brotherton, who teed up Richard Mitchell for his first goal for the club.

Fraser later went close with a free-kick, before penalty appeals were waved away despite Dean Stokes appearing to have been pulled down in the box.

Brotherton hit the bar after the break and Rob Powner made a couple of tidy saves before Alsager doubled their lead. Grocott beat three men and his cross was met by Phil Patel, who made no mistake.

Trouble flared when midfielder Phil Toale was sent off, and he was alleged to have used threatening behaviour to a pair of young supporters. Play was suspended for 15 minutes.

When the match resumed, Formby pulled a goal back through Neal Smith, before he was sent off himself.