Silkmen see domination prove futile

SKY BET LEAGUE TWO MACCLESFIELD .......... 0 MORECAMBE............... 1

DARYL McMahon’s first game in charge of Macclesfield Town resulted in defeat against Morecambe, in a game where the Silkmen dominated for much of the affair.

The Silkmen could not make an hour of pressure count as the Shrimps took all three points, courtesy of a Richie Sutton header.

“I think it was a very good performance. I thought the team played really well, in particular the first half. We moved the ball well and created some good chances, we hit the cross bar twice,” said McMahon.

“We probably weren’t as clinical enough in the final third as we need to be when were on top, but I thought we totally dominated the ball. The goal is a sucker punch really, it’s the first real opportunity they’ve had.

“Fair play to Morecambe, they came here and sat behind the ball and made it difficult for us to break them down.

“They showed us massive amounts of respect.

“I said at half-time that the only way that Morecambe can beat us with the way that we played in the first half, is if we don’t score and we make a mistake.

“That’s exactly what happens to us and in the second phase of the set piece we make a mistake.

“It’s a silly goal to give away.

“They showed their experience later on as well, slowing the game down but I thought the minimum we deserved out of the game was a draw, if not all three points.”

Macc controlled the first half with ease and had several chances to break the deadlock, if not for the woodwork and the heroics of Shrimps goalkeeper Barry Roche.

The first real chance of the game fell to Jak McCourt who saw his thunderous free kick deflected wide of the post in the ninth minute.

Theo Archibald nearly produced another moment of magic shortly after, but his rasping volley from outside the box hammered the crossbar and went behind for a goal kick.

Owen Evans was called into action in the 28th minute when Shrimps midfielder John O’Sullivan unleashed a shot from range, which the loanee gathered comfortably.

The best chance of the half fell to Silkmen captain Kelleher as he rose highest to McCourt’s corner, however Morecambe ‘keeper Roche flew across his goal to tip the header onto the post.

The Silkmen also had a late penalty claim turned down by referee Marsden. Ben Stephens floated a ball into the box and Ironside appeared to be pushed to ground by a Morecambe defender, but nothing was given.

Macc started the second half in the ascendency and began their hunt for the first goal straight from the off.

The ball dropped nicely for Jay Harris to test Roche, but his attempt was saved easily by the keeper.

Despite constant pressure from Macc, the Shrimps opened the scoring in the 64th minute. Macc cleared a free kick, but the ball fell to defender Steven Old on the left-hand side who whipped a cross into the waiting Richie Sutton to head past Evans.

The visitors goal seemed to deflate Macc and they struggled to gain a foothold for the remainder of the game. Morecambe hit the post in the 77th minute after Shaun Miller latched onto a Harris backpass, his effort from wide rolled onto the post and was cleared by Macc.

MACCLESFIELD TOWN:

Evans, Welch-Hayes, Kelleher, Vassell, Archibald, Harris, McCourt (Kirby 75’), Clarke (O’Keeffe 66’), Osadebe, Stephens (Gomis 75’), Ironside.Subs not used: Charles-Cook, Horsfall, Blyth.