Silkmen shoot
MACCLESFIELD Town ended their poor run of form and returned to the top of the National League table after coming from behind to defeat strugglers Guiseley at the Moss Rose.
Rowan Liburd had given Guiseley the lead at half-time after getting the opener on 10 minutes, but second half goals from Nathan Blissett and Tyrone Marsh earned the Silkmen all three points.
The win means that Macc are once again top of the National League table, after failing to win their three previous matches, while Guiseley remain in the relegation zone.
The Silkmen went into the match with Guiseley on the back of a two-week break, having not had a match since playing Torquay at the end of January.
Blissett was making his first start for Macclesfield since joining the club, and he was involved instantly when he found Danny Whitehead in space, but the midfielder’s shot went over the crossbar.
Marsh also had an early chance when his shot on goal forced a save out of Guiseley goalkeeper Luke Coddington.
The Silkmen couldn’t make the opportunities in the opening stages count and they were made to pay when the visitors got the opener after 10 minutes. Liburd’s powerful strike was too much for Shwan Jalal, as it went past the Macclesfield goalkeeper and into the back of the net to make it 1-0 to Guiseley.
Macclesfield tried to hit back instantly and continued to have the better of the play, with Elliot Durrell trying his luck after getting on the end of a pass from Blissett, but once again Coddington was equal to it in the Guiseley goal.
Blissett was continuing to cause plenty of problems for the opposition defence on his first start for Macc, and he almost levelled things up when he got on the end of a cross from Mitch Hancox, but he couldn’t guide the header on target.
Despite all of Macclesfield’s dominance, they remained behind, and Guiseley almost added to their lead just before half-time when Alex Purver’s attempt flew narrowly wide of the Silkmen goal.
Macclesfield trailed at the break, but they thought they had levelled things up straight after half-time when the ball was in the net on 49 minutes, but Blissett’s header was ruled out due to offside.
Coddington continued to have an impressive game for the away side, making another save to keep out Blissett, who was doing everything he could to try and get a goal.
His hard work was finally rewarded when he got his goal just after the hour mark. Danny Whitaker’s corner wasn’t cleared properly, allowing Blissett to smash home the equaliser from close range to make it 1-1 on 61 minutes.
That goal spurred the Silkmen on as they tried to complete the turnaround, and they were able to do it when Macclesfield got their second goal of the game a few minutes later.
Marsh was the man to get the goal on this occasion, with Hancox sending yet another dangerous cross into the box, allowing Marsh to head past Coddington and make it 2-1.
Guiseley had chances in the closing stages as they tried to find an equaliser, but it wasn’t to be as Macclesfield held on to record a vital win. Up next for Macclesfield is a trip to Aldershot this weekend.
MACCLESFIELD TOWN TEAM:
Jalal, Hodgkiss, Fitzpatrick, Lowe, Pilkington, Durrell (Burgess 90’), Marsh (Kennedy 83’), Blissett, Hancox, Whitehead, Whitaker. Subs not used: Wilson, Evans, Ramsbottom