IT’S GREAT SCOTT AS MACC SLAY DRAGONS
AMID the gloom of a wintry Cheshire blizzard, Macclesfield Town whipped up a late storm to send Wrexham packing.
The day’s early kick-off, pitting third against second in front of the TV cameras, had its share of thrills and spills, even before three goals in the last 13 minutes sealed three points for the Silkmen.
Despite their average home form, John Askey’s men began the day a point behind the visitors but thanks to Scott Wilson’s hat-trick they had secured victory even before David Fitzpatrick came up with a rare-as-hensteeth strike in the 90th minute.
“It was terrific, we caused them problems and we probably could have had more goals in the first half,” said Askey. “We missed an absolute sitter but I’m really pleased, everybody has contributed and I’m delighted for them.
“Scott made it look easy with his first two, and then he reacted as all good strikers do in the sixyard box when the keeper’s spilt it. And I’m sure that was David’s first goal ever, he doesn’t even get any in training, so we know we’re doing well when he scores.”
Low on numbers and without a full complement of substitutes, Askey paired Wilson and Tyrone Marsh in the attack, which paid dividends after just six minutes, when they combined brilliantly for Wilson to score after bursting onto Marsh’s beautifully-weighted ball and slotting into the far corner.
It took almost half an hour for Wrexham to wake their former keeper Shwan Jalal from his slumber, but he got down smartly to save a fierce low drive from James Hurst.
The half belonged to Macc though, and they should have doubled the lead ten minutes before the break. Scott Burgess’ shot was blocked on the line by Shaun Pearson and Danny Whitehead sent the loose ball into the hardy Wrexham following in the away terrace.
The Dragons did show they had some fire in their bellies after the break, and Macc’s sub keeper Sam Ramsbottom managed to earn a yellow card from his spot in the dugout, following a set-to with Kevin Roberts who tried to retrieve the ball for a throw-in.
Wrexham could have fallen further behind when Burgess crashed a fine shot against the bar but, with 15 minutes to go, they got back on terms, former Silkman striker Scott Boden heading Mark Carrington’s cross in off the underside of Jalal’s bar.
But if the away following thought they were in for a sterling comeback victory, they were dejected once more, just two minutes later, when Marsh once again picked out a Wilson run and he fired in number two.
That goal prompted a long delay while ground staff and volunteers – who minutes earlier had seemingly lost interest in ensuring the game ran its course – broke out the shovels to clear the ever-thickening snow. Their efforts, and those of the supporters who turned out at the crack of dawn to clear the pitch, were rewarded further as Wilson pounced when Chris Dunn spilled Whitehead’s shot to complete his hat-trick.
Macc’s joy became ecstasy as time ticked away, Fitzpatrick firing in the fourth to complete a miserable day for Wrexham and their manager Dean Keates.
“It’s hard to take, but it just wasn’t good enough,” said Keates. “Their second goal came when we’d been on top in the second half but Macc were by far the better team in the first half and we were lucky to get in at 1-0.
“We asked for a reaction in the second half and we got back in the game, but I think we got carried away with the atmosphere. Fair play to Macc, they stayed in there and got their second goal against the run of play.
“It’s disappointing and I didn’t see it coming, but no one’s going to run away with the title, not with this game or next week’s game, it’s going to go right to the wire.”