Late double lifts
MACCLESFIELD Town scored two late goals to pick up a dramatic victory against Hartlepool United at Victoria Park.
Ryan Lloyd and Keith Lowe netted for the Silkmen in the final five minutes of the match to come from behind and earn all three points away from home.
It means that the Silkmen are third in the National League table at the half-way point of the season, just one point off league leaders Sutton United, and manager John Askey is delighted with how things are going.
“It’s remarkable really that we are in the position that we are in and we have been fortunate to not have too many injuries and the players that have come in are all confident and playing well and that’s been the case since the start of the season,” he told the club’s official website.
“I thought we would be lucky to stay up this season so to be in the position that we are in is fantastic. Now it is important to build on the successful start to the season and Askey was keen to highlight that.
“Every game that you play there is something riding on it even if we lose you are still up there and in it. It is still early days even though we are halfway through.
“Until you get towards March time then you win some and lose some – hopefully we win more than we lose and we can create a gap between us and the rest of the league. That is what we will try and do over the Christmas period now.”
The first half was an even affair, and it looked like it may be goalless at the break, but Hartlepool had other ideas as they made the breakthrough on 39 minutes.
Michael Woods was the man to get the goal, slotting the ball past Macc goalkeeper Shwan Jalal to make it 1-0 to the home side.
That goal made it a lively final five minutes of the first half as the Silkmen tried to hit straight back, with Mitch Hancox denied by a great save from Hartlepool stopper Scott Loach.
He was needed again moments later to deny Scott Burgess, while at the other end Jalal got down well to keep out Jake Cassidy and ensure it was only 1-0 at the interval.
Macc threw plenty of bodies forward throughout the second half as they tried to find an equaliser, but it looked like they would come up short.
That wasn’t the case, as their hard work eventually paid off on 85 minutes, when Lloyd got on the end of a cross from Elliott Durrell to level things up.
Askey’s men weren’t content with settling for a draw, and they completed the turnaround right at the death when Lowe netted a last minute winner to make the final score 2-1 to Macclesfield.
The victory ended a run of three straight draws for the Silkmen, and next up for them is a home game against Wrexham.
Jalal, Hodgkiss, Pilkington, Marsh (Kennedy 90’), Fitzpatrick, Lloyd, Lowe, Hancox (Durrell 53’), Whitaker, Burgess ( Wilson 65’), Whitehead Subs not used: Ramsbottom, Arthur
Macclesfield Town midfield duo Drake Rendle and Lewis Williams have been handed a potentially lucrative trial at Scottish Second Division side Cowdenbeath.
The two have played an integral role in Martyn Irvine’s Under 21 side since it’s inception at the start of the season and it is no surprise that they have been handed the opportunity.
Rendle is a tenacious, hard working midfielder who literally gives everything for the cause.
As well as orchestrating the Silkmen’s midfield, he has also weighed in with his fair share of goals this season
MACCLESFIELD:
Williams is a pacy winger, who has lightening speed which he uses to terrorise opposing defenders.
Both players have great potential and are a credit to the side which Martyn has put together.