Silkmen hold out for draw at Salford
SKY BET
LEAGUE TWO
SALFORD CITY................ 0 MACCLESFIELD TOWN . 0
MACCLESFIELD Town played out an entertaining goalless draw away at the Peninsula Stadium this afternoon in what proved to be a tightly contested affair.
Both sides came close to breaking the deadlock with the woodwork and a fantastic Owen Evans save keeping the hosts at bay, whilst Connor Kirby came closest to opening the scoring for Macc.
The game’s first opportunity fell to defender David Fitzpatrick, but the Silkmen full back appeared to be caught in two minds and his crosscome-shot sailed harmlessly over the Salford crossbar.
Macc’s best chance of the first period came after 25 minutes as Connor Kirby was played through from a Ben Stephens header; but the covering Nathan Pond forced Connor wide onto his left foot and his effort curled just wide of Salford’s goal.
Salford had their best chance of the half moments later as Ibou Touray found Adam Rooney with a cross from deep, but the Irish forward could only find the roof of the net with his looping header.
Rooney would have another chance to open the scoring as the first half ticked towards its conclusion but his powerful header from Jake Jervis’ delivery flew past Owen Evans’ far post.
The first real chance of the second half came the way of the Silkmen as Jak McCourt picked up the ball midway inside the Salford half before driving at the Ammies backline and hitting a curling effort which Chris Neal just about clawed out of the bottom corner.
McCourt and former Macc midfielder Danny Whitehead then clashed midway through the half after a foul by the latter, resulting in both players receiving yellow cards from referee
Donohue.
The game began to open up as it came towards its climax, with Salford hitting the post through Lois Maynard after a dangerous cross from substitute Danny Lloyd.
The Ammies came close again moments later as Lloyd fired goalward from the edge of the Macc area, forcing Owen Evans into a fantastic acrobatic save to keep the scores level.
Macc then hit back with an attack of their own as Emmanuel Osadebe galloped down the left side before whipping a dangerous cross towards Connor Kirby; but he couldn’t connect as the ball flashed agonisingly across the Salford goal before going behind for a goal kick.
Danny Lloyd would have the final opportunity to try and break the deadlock for the hosts, but his close-range effort was expertly blocked by Nathan Cameron as the Silkmen defence held firm to claim a point.
Matthew