AFC quick to expose gulf in class

AFC Macclesfield successfully started their defence of the Stockport Senior Cup on Saturday when they travelled over to Northern Moor and defeated Govan Athletic Res from Division Three of the Manchester Football League.

Macclesfield were in complete control from the kick-off and the difference in standard of football between the two teams started to show.

Within five minutes it was 1-0 to Macc when Jay Burgess struck an effort from outside the box which found the top corner. Macclesfield’s fullback Ash Flood then got on the scoresheet as Luke Murray swung in a cross to leave the right back a simple tap in.

Just before the break, Jay Burgess was fouled on the edge of the Govan penalty area and Jack Banister took the resulting free kick which found the top corner of the net, leaving the Govan goalkeeper stranded.

It marked a good week for Bannister, who has also been selected to represent the Cheshire League Under 23s team against The Lancashire and Cheshire League later this month on October 19.

Macclesfield were dominant without getting out of first gear and if it wasn’t for the heroics of the Govan goalkeeper, it might have been all over by the break.

After the interval, Macclesfield increased their goal tally when Ash Flood grabbed his second and Macclesfield’s fourth, with a run from the back resulting in a skirmish in front of goal.

The ball came back to Flood unmarked at the back post for him to again tap the ball into the back of the net.

The fifth goal came quickly after, with man of the match Jay Burgess grabbing his second of the afternoon.

Sam Dickov impressed again playing his first full game for Macclesfield. He grabbed a well-deserved goal with an effort from the right hand side, which caught a small deflection and found its way into the back of the net to make it 6-0.

A poor back pass from the Govan Athletic defender was then pounced on by Jack Banister when he reacted quickly and intercepted the pass to make it 7-0 with a simple effort.

The scoring wasn’t over for Macclesfield as Jack Hunter got in on the action when a corner fell to him on the edge of the box and his curled effort found the bottom corner. Against all the odds, Govan Athletic got a late consolation goal but it didn’t take the shine off this emphatic win.

Meanwhile, AFC Macclesfield Reserves got a well-earned 0-0 draw in their away game with Pilkington Reserves, leaving them in third place in the CFL Reserve League.

It seemed that the football gods were against Macclesfield on Saturday, with an early 12.30pm kick off time causing a number of the first team regulars to miss the match due to work commitments as well as star man Lee Quinlan, who was missing due to the imminent arrival of his baby.

The game started at a fast pace with both teams eager to get an early goal, but the majority of the chances created were only half chances with neither keeper tested.

Macclesfield were disappointed not to receive a penalty in the final stages of the first half when there was an obvious pull on the forward’s shirt as he drove into the box, but the referee said no.

The second half became scrappy with both teams committing more fouls than creating chances.

With five minutes remaining Pilkington FC pushed forward, they played a ball out wide to their winger who cut inside the box and as he was about to realise a pass, he received a clip on his heels which forced him to the ground.

The referee didn’t hesitate in awarding the penalty, fortunately for Macclesfield the penalty taker rattled the post and the game ended in a draw.

Considering the circumstances, it turned out to be a good away point for AFC Macclesfield Reserves.