Macc-nificent win at title-chasing South Cheshire

MACCLESFIELD inflicted a second straight seven-goal defeat on Congleton side South Cheshire at the weekend.

South Cheshire had suffered a 7-0 humbling at league leaders Blackpool a week earlier and so Macc made the short journey there with a degree of optimism.

The early exchanges saw frantic end-to-end action in which either team could have taken the lead.

Once they’d found a rhythm quick attacking play saw Macc take the lead through AllmandSmith, tipping the ball past the onrushing keeper.

South Cheshire rallied and fought back, earning an equaliser prior to Wild restoring Macc’s lead just before half-time.

The second half started much like the first with plenty of opportunities. South Cheshire’s skilful forwards were met by a tight defensive line, who turned over the ball and released their own forwards, allowing for swift counters in the now gaping spaces left by the pressing opposition.

Allmand-Smith made it 3-1 when he rounded the keeper and flicked past the defender on the line.

This resulted in South Cheshire players getting wound up, with a couple having to be pulled aside by the umpires when decisions didn’t go their way.

Not prepared to go down without a fight they dug in again to pull one goal back, then from a penalty flick conceded by Macc’s exposed keeper Satin, they converted to draw level.

Not to be disheartened Macc pushed on to score four more goals from Smith deflecting a through ball, Lockett dispatching a pull-back, Wild rounding the keeper on the break and Boardman drag flicking into the top of the goal from a penalty corner.

South Cheshire had the final word, converting a penalty corner of their own, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Macclesfield taking the three points.

There was defeat for the second and third teams, 4-1 at home to Timperley thirds and 5-2 against Bowden sixth string.

The fourth team lost 11-0 at the newly-formed Keele University team that’s working its way up the ladder.

In the ladies’ ranks the first team lost 3-1 at Bowden fourths but the seconds and thirds were both victorious.

The seconds beat Chester thirds 3-1 and the third team were 3-0 victors over the visiting Deeside Ramblers thirds.

The fourths lost 11-1 at Whitchurch’s first team.