Macclesfield one match away from league title
MACCLESFIELD TOWN moved one step closer to earning promotion back to the Football League after a hard-fought 2-0 win at Boreham Wood.
The Silkmen got off to a great start when Tyrone Marsh got the opening goal after 20 minutes at Meadow Park.
They carried that lead into the second half, and then Marsh was on hand again just before the hour mark as he found the net to double Town’s lead his side’s lead.
That’s how the game ended, with Macclesfield holding on to secure victory and put themselves on the verge of clinching the National League title.
The victory leaves Macclesfield 12 points clear at the top, meaning they can win the title when they play Leyton Orient at home on Saturday.
Macc were helped by Sutton United’s poor run of form continuing, with their promotion rivals suffering their third straight defeat meaning they can no longer catch the Silkmen.
Tranmere are now in second, but they can only reach 88 points if they win all five of their remaining games, with Macc already on 85 points.
Elsewhere, STOCKPORT COUNTY’s good run of form came to an end as they lost 3-1 at Kidderminster Harriers.
Kidderminster went ahead after just four minutes through Joe Ironside, but Stockport equalised just moments later thanks to James Ball.
James McQuilkin restored his side’s lead on 20 minutes, before Dan Bradley got the third to condemn County to defeat. PEP Guardiola lamented a string of refereeing decisions as City went out to Liverpool in the Champions League quarter-finals.
The Blues ended up well beaten, losing 5-1 on aggregate, but threatened to turn the tie on its head with a barnstorming start at the Etihad.
With a 1-0 lead, Leroy Sane turned the ball in shortly before half-time but the goal was incorrectly ruled out for offside, with James Milner rather than a City player turning the ball towards goal.
Guardiola was sent to the stands at half-time for disputing the decision with the referee as they walked off the pitch at the interval, and Liverpool scored shortly after nothing was given for Roberto Firmino fouling Kevin de Bruyne.
Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz has previous with City and Guardiola.
Just last week as the Blues coach was imploring a perfect game from his side to overturn a 3-0 deficit, he recalled the momentum shift last season against Monaco when Sergio Aguero was felled in the box at 1-0 and Lahoz booked the Argentine for diving.
From potentially being 2-0 up, City quickly imploded to go 2-1 down and while it didn’t feel significant on a night they won 5-3, it turned out to be when they went out on away goals.
Guardiola has not forgotten that incident, and also referenced the first leg at Anfield when Mo Salah’s opening goal was given and Gabriel Jesus had a goal ruled out towards the end.
“I said it was a goal when the ball was passed to Leroy Sane. That’s why he sent me off,” said Guardiola as he revealed what he said to the referee at half-time.
“I didn’t insult him, I just said it’s a goal, the ball came from Milner. He said, ‘oh the pass came from Milner?’
“And I said yes, it came from Milner. I was polite, I was correct but Mateu Lahoz is a special guy he likes to be different, he likes to be special. “It would have been different to go in 2-0. It’s different when [Mo] Salah’s goal at Anfield is offside. It’s different when Gabriel Jesus’ goal at Anfield is offside. It’s a penalty for Raheem Sterling from Andy Robertson in front of the fourth official. Of course they have an influence. “Big congratulations to Liverpool, hopefully they can represent England well in the semi-final. They are a top team and a top manager. They deserve to be there. “We made an outstanding 45 minutes, but like last season against Monaco with Aguero when it is a clear penalty, the same referee. “But I know him from Spain so I could imagine that. The players felt it. “In this competition the teams are so equal the impact is so big. It is what it is. We will come back stronger next season.” Pep Guardiola on the referee