Silkmen in the
MACCLESFIELD extended their lead at the top of the National League on Easter Monday with a 1-0 win over Chester.
Despite an underwhelming performance by John Askey’s side, Danny Whitehead’s 53rd minute strike was enough to see off second from bottom Chester in front of 2,996 people at Moss Rose.
Second place Sutton United’s 3-0 home defeat to Bromley meant the SIlkmen ended the Easter weekend nine points clear at the top with five fixtures remaining, although Sutton have a game in hand.
The Silkmen started the game slowly on a muddy surface and the away side had the better chances in the opening 20 minutes.
Harry White was twice allowed to shoot in space from 18 yards, but the striker scuffed his efforts straight to Shwan Jalal on both occasions.
Macclesfield showed glimpses of their superior ability, most notably through a brilliant exchange on the left hand side.
Whitehead’s back healed pass sent Mitch Hancox in behind the full back, but Tyrone Marsh could not reach the cross which flashed past the six yard box.
A dangerous Chester corner then gave the away side their best chance of the first half but Shaun Hobson, diving backwards, could only stear his header over the bar.
The league leaders suddenly started to switch on around the half hour mark.
A brilliant move of at least 25 passes resulted in Jared Hodgkiss whipping a cross in from the touch line, but the ball was already out of play for a goal kick.
The same man then appeared to put Nathan Blissett through on goal, but the striker was judged offside.
His shot was straight at the keeper anyway.
A series of threatening corners in the final 10 minutes of the half lead to two close range chances for Callum Evans, but his efforts were off target.
Macclesfield would feel unlucky not to be leading at the break having had a host of attempts, but Chester had opportunities of their own on the counter attack as Askey’s team committed multiple players forward in their usual style.
In the second half Danny Whitaker had a chance to take the lead on 50 minutes with a header from six yards, but his effort went agonisingly over the bar.
However, three minutes later fellow midfielder Whitehead did not disappoint.
A well worked move on the left hand side resulted in a low cross that the 24 year old slotted home into the bottom left corner.
After taking the lead, Macclesfield turned the game into a scrappy affair and rarely showed the attacking panache on display in the first half.
In fact, Chester had the better of the chances. James Jones came closest to drawing level on 64 minutes when a free kick from the edge of the box deflected off the wall and fell to the defender 10 yards out.
But he was denied by Jalal who pulled off an excellent reflex save to tip the ball over the bar.
The Silkmen had two major chances to kill the game off but could not take them.
Blissett failed to reach a Whitaker cross and substitute Kieran Kennedy’s shot from 15 yards was hit straight at the keeper.
Four nervous added minutes followed regular time for Macclesfield supporters, as Chester threw bodies forward.
Even Askey tried to slow play down and was then