Silkmen soar up
MACCLESFIELD Town moved to the top of the National League table after picking up a dominant win at home to Wrexham.
Scott Wilson was the difference for the Silkmen as he netted a hat-trick, while David Fitzpatrick also got in on the act with a late goal to help their team pick up the victory at the Moss Rose.
It means that Macc are now two points clear of second placed Sutton United, and manager John Askey praised hat-trick hero Wilson for his performance.
“Scott made it look easy. He was very composed for his first two goals, and the third one he’s reacted so well to the keeper spilling the ball,” he said.
“I couldn’t have asked for anything better. I thought we played well and started the game well. We had a bit of a wobble when they scored, but when our second goal went in we controlled the game again.
“We caused them problems, and we could’ve had more. I’m really pleased and if the boys weren’t confident before, I think they are now.”
“I was really pleased with Kieran Kennedy, too. He hasn’t played for two or three weeks and he had to step in because George Pilkington pulled his back in the morning, so Kieran did terrific.”
The match was in doubt at one stage, with a lot of snow covering the pitch at the Moss Rose, but after help from volunteers and staff, a lot of the snow was cleared and the referee was happy that the match could go ahead.
It didn’t take Macclesfield long to make the breakthrough as Wilson got the opener after just six minutes of the game.
He got on the end of a pass from Marsh before firing into the net from a tight angle to put his side in front.
Askey’s men had further chances as the half went on, but they couldn’t find the net and they had to settle for a 1-0 lead at the break.
More snow continued to fall as the second half began, and it looked like it may be a tightly contested game, but four goals then came in the final 15 minutes.
Wrexham got back on level terms when Scott Boden got on the end of Manny Smith’s cross and headed in to equalise, but it wasn’t 1- 1 for long.
Just a few minutes later, Wilson got his second goal of the game when he fired home from close range to restore his team’s lead.
His hat-trick was then complete on 82 minutes when he pounced on goalkeeper Chris Dunn’s block, allowing him to score and ensure his team would get the win.
There was still time for Fitzpatrick to put the finishing touches on the victory in stoppage time, as he grabbed the fourth goal of the afternoon to help the Silkmen send the Moss Rose faithful home happy.
Macc will now look to build on their dominant win when they make the trip to the Shay to face Halifax Town in the FA Trophy on Saturday.
It will be the first of three games between Macc and
‘I’m really pleased and if the boys weren’t confident before, I think they are now’
Halifax over the next couple of weeks, with the teams also set to meet in their two league matches.
Jalal, Hodgkiss, Fitzpatrick, Lowe, Kennedy, Marsh, Wilson, Lloyd, Whitehead, Burgess, Whitaker. Subs not used: Ramsbottom, Baba, Hancox, Arthur
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