Macc get off the
MACCLESFIELD Town picked up their first away win of the season after an impressive victory over Braintree Town.
Goals from Danny Rowe, Chris Holroyd and Jack Sampson earned the three points for the visitors despite a late goal from Lee Barnard.
One negative point from the match saw Silkmen defender Mitch Hancox sent off during the closing stages at the Amlin Stadium.
Macclesfield manager John Askey made two changes from the team that played York last week, with Paul Lewis and Kingsley James both starting.
Lewis was lively from the start, while Danny Whitaker went close when he volleyed an effort just wide.
Braintree were just as dangerous at the other end, with Simeon Atkinola causing constant problems.
It was Macclesfield who managed to make the breakthrough though when Rowe opened the scoring for his side.
He got on the end of a pass from James before advancing into the box and firing into the bottom corner after 10 minutes.
That goal appeared to give the Silkmen a boost and they nearly doubled their lead when goalkeeper Jamie Butler was forced to make a reaction save to prevent an own goal.
Whitaker and James then both went close, and it appeared it was just a matter of time until Macc found the back of the net again.
That proved to be true when Holroyd increased his side’s lead just after the half hour mark. Sampson’s ball into the box was turned in at the near post by the striker to make it 2-0.
Braintree were struggling to cope with the constant pressure they were being put under, as Andy Halls, Rowe and James all had efforts just before the interval.
Akinola remained Braintree’s main threat, and he forced a good save out of Craig Ross in the Macclesfield goal at the start of the second half.
At the other end, Lewis saw a header cleared off the line, before John McCombe fired an effort off target.
Macc’s third goal eventually came on 73 minutes when Sampson smashed home from the edge of the box to put daylight between them and Braintree.
The hosts did manage to pull one back during the closing stages when they were awarded a penalty following an alleged handball by Hancox.
The defender was booked for the incident, and Barnard slotted the penalty into the back of the net to earn his team a consolation goal.
Hancox was then shown his marching orders on 89 minutes after receiving a second yellow card, meaning that the Silkmen had to play the final moments with ten men.
Braintree couldn’t hold onto that man advantage though, as just moments later goalkeeper Butler was shown a straight red card for a foul on James while Macclesfield looked to counter-attack.
That turned out to be the last significant moment of the match, with Askey’s side picking up a hard-fought 3-1 victory.
MACCLESFIELD:
Ross, Halls, Pilkington, McCombe, Hancox, Whitaker (Fitzpatrick 90’), Lewis (Byrne 78’), James, Rowe, Holroyd (Mackreth 75’), Sampson. Not Used: Cowan, Branagan