Silkmen lose out to champs
MACCLESFIELD came up short against the newly crowned champions of the National League after a defeat to Cheltenham at the Moss Rose in the penultimate game of the season.
A first half goal from Dan Holman was the difference between the two sides and ended Macclesfield’s unbeaten run of nine games.
While manager John Askey was disappointed to see his team come up short, he knew it was going to be a hard task going up against the best side in the division.
“We’ve gone into this game hoping that we can stay to the end of the season without losing but we came across obviously the top team and I thought they showed why their top of the league,” he said.
“I thought they were very disciplined and fit and strong and on set pieces they always looked a danger. Having said that, for the majority of the game we matched them, but it’s something to learn from.”
Cheltenham started off the better of the two sides when James Dayton got some space in the box, only for his low shot to be comfortably saved by Ritchie Branagan.
Macclesfield’s first opportunity came when Paul Turnbull’s cross found Danny Whitaker, but his shot across the goal was sliced over the bar by Cheltenham’s Daniel Parlslow.
It was a very quiet opening 20 minutes for both sides trying to settle into the game with the Silkmen’s best chance coming from Danny Rowe who’s dipped volley outside the box just missed the target.
Parlsow then had a great chance to give Cheltenham the lead with a diving header, only for Branagan to get down in quick succession to get the ball.
The deadlock was broken in the 25th minute though when Dayton’s reverse pass picked out Holman on the edge of the box, who fired a powerful shot into the back of the net
Macclesfield responded well after the goal when Rowe and Chris Holroyd both put dangerous balls into the box, but nobody was able to get on the end of them.
The Silkmen continued to press before half-time when David Fitzpatrick picked out Holroyd, who’s shot was unable to find the target.
Cheltenham’s Cameron Burgess then almost doubled his side’s lead as he hit a shot over the crossbar to end the first half.
Rowe got the second half off to a good start for the Silkmen with his run leading to a shot from the right side, only for it hit the post.
Macclesfield continued to threaten when Rowe’s counter-attack tried to find Jack Sampson, however the striker was inches away. from getting a grip on the ball as he slid in.
Cheltenham’s Kyle Storer then played a freekick into the path of Holman, but his shot was deflected for a corner which Branagan controlled.
Kristian Dennis came close for the Silkmen when he received a pass from Holroyd outside the box, but Robins goalkeeper Jonathan Flatt was able to deny the striker.
With time running out for the Silkmen, Macclesfield were pushing hard to find the equaliser and won a free-kick it the final minutes, but Turnbull couldn’t make it count.
Macclesfield found it difficult to break down the opposition defence and in the end and it was Cheltenham who picked up the three points.
The Silkmen are now in 10th place in the league after the defeat and will now face relegation threatened Halifax in the final game of the season.
Branagan, Halls, Byrne (Cowan 90), McCombe, Fitzpatrick, Turnbull, Holroyd, Whitaker (Sutherland 79), Rowe, Styche (Dennis 59), Sampson. Subs not used: Jalal, Cowan, Diagne
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