AFC Macc hold on to take points

AFC Macclesfield were victorious at Middlewich Town on Saturday as they continue their pursuit of back-to-back league titles.

On a dull and wet afternoon, Macclesfield started the brightest with the centre midfield pairing of Chris Coppenhall and Jack Hunter controlling the game, but Macclesfield couldn’t find that clinical pass to open up a wellorganised Middlewich Town side.

It was a quiet first half, with Jack Banister having the best chance after he was fouled on the edge of the box.

He dusted himself down and took the free kick, but his fine effort hit the bar.

The second half started in the same vein with Macclesfield struggling to find a way through.

After 62 minutes on the clock, that all changed. Skipper Greg Mathers received the ball on the left hand side and with Middlewich players all around him, he rifled the ball into the bottom corner of the Middlewich net to put Macclesfield one up.

Minutes later, Macclesfield made it two. A well-worked team goal started with Jonny Cavanagh receiving the ball on the right wing, who whipped it into Jay Burgess’ path who then laid it on a plate for Mathers to grab his and Macclesfield’s second.

Being relatively comfortable, Macclesfield sat back, but out of nowhere, Middlewich Town were back in the game.

The opposition struck the ball from outside of the box, which goalkeeper Dom Chell saved. But a Middlewich striker was first to react and Chell once again pulled off an outstanding save – but on the third time of asking, they beat Chell to make the score 2-1.

Despite late pressure from the hosts, Macc managed to hold on to pick up an impressive victory.

There was also success for AFC Macclesfield’s reserve team as they secured a 4-2 win at St Helens Reserves.

It was a bad start to the game for Macc, as St Helens scored two early goals to race into a 2-0 lead.

The visitors hit back, though, thanks to a second half hat-trick from Nathan Jackson and a strike from Tom Wowk to earn the comeback win.