Silkmen edged by Colchester
SKY BET
LEAGUE TWO COLCHESTER UTD ......... 2 MACCLESFIELD TOWN .. 1
THE Silkmen fell to a narrow defeat at the JobServe Community Stadium courtesy of a Callum Harriott strike and a Fiacre Kelleher own goal.
Despite conceding twice in the space of two first half minutes, Macc gave everthing to draw level in the second half; but Ben Stephens’ brilliant volley wasn’t enough.
A late flurry of chances went begging for Macc as Colchester held on to condemn the Silkmen to defeat in Mark Kennedy’s inaugural game as head coach.
Colchester started on the front foot with Ryan Clampin testing the Silkmen backline early on before being denied by a mixture of Fraser Horsfall and Reice Charles-Cook.
The U’s would not be denied for much longer, however, as Callum Harriott took aim from distance and found the top corner with a powerful strike which flew into the top corner.
Our hosts would double their advantage just two minutes later, as Kwame Poku’s dangerous cross was inadvertently turned into the Macc net by Fiacre Kelleher.
Macc’s best chance of the half came moments after Colchester’s second as Arthur Gnahoua cut the ball back to Ben Stephens, but his clever flick was tipped around the post by a scrambling Dean Gerken.
Callum Harriott attempted to replicate his earlier effort as he tried his luck from distance once again midway through the half; but he fired well over on this occasion.
Chances were at a premium for the remainder of the half, with Corey O’Keeffe’s effort bobbling just wide of Dean Gerken’s goal as the half fizzled towards its conclusion.
After a strong start to the second half by Colchester, Macc soon had the hosts on the back foot with Ben Stephens firing just wide after driving at the U’s backline from inside the Macc half.
Colchester would have the ball in the back of the net for a third time, but Theo Robinson was adjudged to have put the ball past Charles-Cook from an offside position.
The Silkmen got their goal courtesy of Ben Stephens, who found the net with a fantastic volley from the edge of the Colchester area.
U’s goalkeeper Dean Gerken didn’t move and could only watch as it flew past him and into the corner.
Theo Robinson was still proving to be a thorn in the Macc backline, and he went down as Colchester had a strong penalty shout dismissed by the referee.
Joe Ironside came closest to snatching what would have been a deserved equaliser for a determined Macc outfit late on, but Colchester defended gallantly and scrambled the ball to safety as he shaped to shoot.
Colchester substitute Luke Norris was denied by Charles-Cook as the hosts broke away following a Macc attack; but the game would finish shortly after and Colchester held on to claim all three points.