CLASSY SILKMEN MAKE THEIR MOVE
MACC’FIELD 1 N Whitaker 22 (pen) FERRIBY 0
IT was heavy going at times but 10-man Macclesfield held out to heap more misery on North Ferriby United and boost their own hopes at the top.
Sadly, star billing, however, went to referee David Richardson, who awarded the Silkmen a contested penalty then depleted their ranks with an equally debatable red card of John McCombe, leaving both managers scratching their heads.
“It was never a penalty in a million years and that one error is what has killed us,” said Villagers boss Steve Housham. “They weren’t in it until then and it’s turned the game.
“He’s tried to level it up by sending one off, their keeper pulled off some good saves and we’ve hit the bar, so I can’t fault the lads.
“It’s sometimes harder when you’re up against 10 men, it can get in the minds of the players and slow them down.
“But we’ve still got our noses above water and we’ve got to keep going.”
With no great threat early on it took that 21st-minute penalty for Macc to edge ahead.
Chris Holroyd had his back to goal on the edge of the box as Mark Gray made an uncompromising challenge from behind. Mr Richardson hesitating and looking for an advantage before awarding the spotkick. Danny Whitaker netted twice in Macclesfield’s midweek win against Wrexham and he was the coolest customer in town as he sent Rory Watson the wrong way.
Mr Richardson’s next big decision, four minutes later, then turned the tide back towards North Ferriby. Whether Reece Thompson would have reached the ball over the top is up for debate, but a push from McCombe ensured no-one would ever know. His push, though unnecessary, did seem minimal and his dismissal was harsh. But Macc didn’t look short-handed for most of the second half, and had Watson not got his hands to Whitaker’s shot they could have sealed it early in the second half. North Ferriby rallied and Gray will look back in anger at his wayward headers in front of goal, while Macc keeper Scott Flinders earned his corn by thwarting Connor Oliver and Simon Russell. On the one occasion Flinders was beaten, Kyle Wootton’s drive crashed back off the crossbar, meaning United once again ended the day empty-handed. For Macc, boss John Askey was happy to accept the charitable penalty as he saw his side go level on points with the top two. “It’s difficult to say whether it was a red card, but there were one or two things were debatable, including our penalty,” he conceded. “You have to overcome those things and we did, which is great. “Obviously it made our job more difficult when John went off but the players have worked their socks off and it’s pleasing to see their efforts pay off.”