Silkmen sunk by
SKY BET LEAGUE TWO EXETER CITY .................. 1 MACCLESFIELD TOWN . 0 WILL FARR & BEN STRANGE
ALATE Ryan Bowman goal broke Ma c c l e s f i e l d hearts as the Silkmen fell to defeat against Exeter City on the opening day of the season.
Macc started the game strongly and they saw plenty of the ball with Jay Harris and Paddy Osadebe dictating play from midfield.
For Exeter, three players made their competitive debuts for manager Matt Taylor in Lewis Ward, Tom Parkes and Nicky Ajose.
For much of the opening quarter of an hour there was little by the way of chance with both sides finding their way into the match. The Grecians’ threatened the Town goal on 14 minutes when Pierce Sweeney crossed well from the right after a throw-in, but Ryan Bowman’s header edged just over.
The Silkmen produced the best chance of the half when Ben Stephens’ close range header was cleared off the line after a dangerous corner by Jak McCourt.
Soon after, Theo Archibald’s dinked pass found Joe Ironside in behind the City defence after good work from Town on the right, but after Tom Parkes got back well to narrow the angle, goalkeeper Lewis Ward collected the low shot comfortably.
In the 36th minute, McCourt’s clever pass found Osadebe in space inside the box, but his cross was cleared away from the lurking Ironside.
Macclesfield continued to have the better of the chances as they went close just before the break when they broke down the right before Theodore Archibald saw his left
footed effort blocked behind by Dean Moxey, as the sides went into halftime level.
The visitors ended the half as the better side after controlling possession throughout, but the game remained goalless.
The Silkmen continued to lay siege to the Grecians goal after half time.
A well worked training ground corner resulted in a good save by Ward after Ben Stephens’ powerful drive.
The Grecians then had Dean Moxey to thank when he made a crucial interception after a low cross to the far post found Ironside, and despite what seemed like a simple finish, the City left back’s interception saw the ball bounce up kindly for Ward to catch.
As the half continued, Exeter grew into the game through the problematic Randell Williams.
City had a glorious chance to go ahead when a free-kick came back to Pierce Sweeney before he delivered an excellent cross to the far post to find the unmarked Parkes, but he was unable to keep his header on target as the ball nestled wide going into the final 20 minutes.
Osadebe continued to impress and his one-two with Ben Stephens created space for the former to fizz a shot at Ward, but it was turned away for a corner.
Parkes was involved again as the Grecians won a succession of corners, and despite connecting well with Nicky Law’s delivery, the ball was blocked by Lee Martin as Town managed to clear.
As time ticked by the Grecians continued to press, and the goal eventually came when Nicky Law had a bit of good fortune to ride a challenge before firing an effort into a crowded box where the ball met Bowman, who swept home, as the Grecians made a winning start to the campaign.
Ward, Sweeney, A.
EXETER CITY:
Martin, Law, Williams ( Warren, 90+3),, Bowman, Ajose (L. Martin, 53), Parkes, Moxey, Taylor, Collins Subs not used: Maxted, Woodman, Jay, Fisher, Seymour
Bowman
BOOKED: MACCLESFIELD TOWN:
Evans, Clarke, McCourt, Kelleher, Vassell (Horsfall, 90+1), Harris, Ironside (Blyth, 60,) Stephens (Fitzpatrick, 79), Archibald, Welch-Hayes, Osadebe Subs not used: Ntambwe, Fitzpatrick, Rose McCourt, Osadebe 4,502 (Inc, 157, away)
BOOKED: ATTENDANCE: