New faces come together for win

SOL Campbell guided The SIlkmen to their first win of pre-season in a close affair against local side Congleton Town which saw many new faces play their first game for the club.

The Silkmen came roaring out the traps in the first two minutes, as Jacob Blythe placed a shot into the bottom right corner after a through ball from Jak McCourt to put Macclesfield up 1-0.

Macc continued to apply the pressure, with a variety of fast-paced attacks which Congleton struggled to cope with. McCourt was influential in the first half as he orchestrated the midfield in creating dangerous chances.

New signing Joe Ironside crossed in a ball that Fitzpatrick managed to get on the end of, however after cutting in from the left he saw his effort ricochet off the bar in what could have easily extended the score-line.

Shortly after, the opposition came surging forward and Congleton equalised with a wellplaced shot from Henderson. The goal seemed to knock Macc’s confidence and the half ended with both sides in the equally matched in the game.

Sol Campbell completely changed his eleven at the break giving the remaining half of the squad a run out to get back to match fitness.

Early in the second half a Macclesfield trialist used spectacular skill to beat the defender and he picked out Scott Wilson who came close to scoring, but the Bears goalkeeper Cook pulled off a great save before the ball was cleared off the line.

Adam Dawson caused havoc for the opposition’s full-back using his trickery and speed to create multiple chances for the Macclesfield forwards. Wilson came close to scoring in the midst of the second half, but his effort wasn’t enough to beat the keeper.

The Silkmen continued to push for a winner in the second half but chances went begging as the Macclesfield midfield continued to dominate the ball.

However in the final stages of the contest, Macc’s pressure paid off and they re-gained the lead after Wilson played a tidy pass to a trialist who calmly stormed through and finished low and hard to win the game.

Trialist, Jules, Kelleher, Welch-Hayes, McCourt, Evans, Osadebe, Ironside, Blyth, Fitzpatrick, Stephens.

MACC FIRST HALF:

Trialist, Pearson, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist, Dawson, Rose, Ntambwe, Trialist, Trialist, Wilson.

MACC SECOND HALF: