Players praised for recovering from ‘shocking’ decision

JOHN Askey has slammed the officials for their performance during Macclesfield Town’s 1-1 draw with Tranmere Rovers in the FA Trophy semi-final first leg.

The Silkmen’s game finished all square on Saturday after Ollie Norburn’s strike meant they came from behind to take a share of the spoils at the Moss Rose.

Tranmere went ahead early on in the game after Jeff Hughes netted a controversial penalty for the visitors.

Askey was stunned that the decision to award the spot kick was made, and he felt that the officials were extremely poor in the match.

“Full credit needs to go to the team for how they responded after such a shocking decision,” he said.

“I don’t think anybody knows what he’s given it for. He’s got excited before the game and somebody near him must have shouted for a penalty so he’s reacted and blew his whistle, it beggar’s belief.

“We then had a chance where the ball hit the crossbar and come out. We thought it was over the line but the linesman was only on the 18 yard box so he couldn’t give it as he hasn’t kept up with play.

“Hopefully for the second leg at Tranmere the officials are better and we play as well as we did in the first leg and get the win.”

A crowd of 2,358 was in attendance for Saturday’s game at the Moss Rose, but Askey has revealed he hoped there would have been more.

“We’re grateful for the ones that were here but it’s still a bit disappointing that people don’t get behind us on a game like that,” he said. “There were no other matches on and I don’t think there was anything else to do, but all we can concentrate on is ourselves and trying to win games.”