Refreshed AFC bounce back with Cuddington win

CHESHIRE FOOTBALL LEAGUE TWO

FOLLOWING a week’s break from football, AFC Macclesfield returned to action with a victory at Cuddington FC.

The visitors started the brighter, with captain and leading goal scorer Greg Mathers going one on one with the opposition keeper but a fine save denied what looked like a certain goal.

Macclesfield started to pile pressure onto the Cuddington defence, and a perfect pass by Jonny Cavanagh set Sam Williamson on his way but his thunderous left footed effort hit the bar.

Shortly after it was the Cuddington bar again that denied Williamson when his ambitions chip from outside the box left the keeper stranded.

Mathers then found himself one on one, but this time he decided to round the keeper and after all his hard work had been done, he could only find the side netting.

Macc started the second half well and a fine run from winger Chris Allen resulted in the Cuddington left back bringing him down.

Jonny Cavanagh stepped over the ball and curled it into the top corner of the Cuddington net to leave the keeper with no chance.

Unfortunately, Macclesfield took their foot off the gas momentarily and totally against the run of play, Cuddington made it 1-1 when their striker beat the offside trap and squared it to his teammate who tapped the ball into an empty net.

Inspired by their equaliser, Cuddington pushed forward and made it 2-1 after a scramble in the Macclesfield six yard box resulted in the ball eventually crossing the line.

Macc refocused and started to take control again and were awarded a free kick on the edge of the opposition box.

Cavanagh stepped over the ball and with Cuddington setting themselves for a shot, he brilliantly chipped into the path of Chris Coppenhall who slid the ball into the bottom corner making it 2-2.

Five minutes later, Macclesfield took a well-deserved lead when Jack Banister completed the comeback with a fine finish which found the bottom right hand corner of the Cuddington net to put his team in front.

Cuddington pressed for the equaliser but the Macclesfield defence remained solid and five minutes from time they made it 4-2.

Man of the match Jonny Cavanagh broke the offside trap and found Harry Wheetman with a cross field ball and Wheetman scored a fine goal that put the game out of reach of the opposition and hand Macc the win.