Macc held despite Clare’s four-goal heroics

NW COUNTIES PREMIER DIVISION WINSFORD UTD .............. 4 MACCLESFIELD .............. 4

Four Tom Clare strikes helped Macclesfield FC secure a share of the spoils last night, as we took part in an eight-goal thriller at Winsford United.

The game began at a frantic pace and with just 27 seconds on the clock Aaron Dwyer was brought down in the box, giving the referee no option but to point to the penalty spot. Tom Clare stepped up and confidently smashed the ball past Ryan Hamer to send the large travelling contingent wild.

Macc continued to dominate and our lead was doubled five minutes later. Aaron Fleming sped down the left-hand flank, before sending a teasing cross into the area which was calmly slotted home by Clare.

The visitors continued to dominate, with Leon Arnasalam looking particularly menacing. Yet in the 13th minute, he was subject to a heavy challenge and gingerly walked off the pitch, to be replaced by Rocco Fregapane.

Kieran Curtis and Laurent Mendy then went close to adding a third for the visitors, yet in the 20th minute Winsford carved out their first real chance of the game when Matthew Coughlan fired inches wide from fifteen yards out.

Slowly but surely Winsford started to come back into the game, as they began to enjoy a greater share of the overall possession.

This would pay dividends in the 34th minute, when they reduced the deficit with an audacious strike. Ben Pierce came out of his area to head the ball clear, yet this was seized upon by Danny Boden and his looping first-time effort dramatically dipped into the empty goal.

The goal unquestionably buoyed the hosts into pushing for an equaliser and this came just three minutes later. A lightning counterattack saw Matthew

Boland confidently finish at the far part and for a short spell, Macc looked shell-shocked.

With the game all-set to be level at the interval, Macc laid siege to the Winsford goal in a bid to claim the ascendancy once more. Kieran Curtis’ deep corner from the left was headed back across goal by Mendy and there was Tom Clare to head in from close range to claim his hat-trick.

The second half began at the same speed as the first had ended and in the 56th minute, the hosts drew level for the second time. A rapid attacking move saw a low drive enter the area from the left and Duckworth was there to sweep the ball home.

Parity would last just nine minutes however, as Rocco Fregapane was then impeded in the box and the referee pointed to the spot for a second time.

Tom Clare stepped up once again and despite Hamer making a phenomenal save to keep the initial effort out, Clare was on-hand to despatch the rebound.

In keeping with how the match was developing, Winsford defiantly looked for a third and this would come just four minutes later when Duckworth hammered the ball home from ten-yards out.

The closing stages saw both sides create guiltedged opportunities to claim a winner, yet the game would end allsquare at the end of a dramatic night at the Barton Stadium.

Pierce, Obeng, Fleming, Stead, Coker, Sanogo, Arnasalam, Mendy, Clare, Curtis, Dwyer.

Kennedy, Fregapane, Whitaker, Hodgson, James.

MACCLESFIELD FC: SUBS: