Macclesfield Express

AFC return to action with a bang

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CHESHIRE FOOTBALL LEAGUE TWO AFC MACCLESFIE­LD . 5 LOSTOCK GRALAM.... 0

AFC Macclesfie­ld returned to action after the Christmas break with league leaders, Lostock Gralam the visitors to Stockport Sports Village, in a top of the table, six-pointer clash.

Macclesfie­ld were quick out of the blocks and a ball played from the back to striker Lee Malkin who superbly controlled the ball and he flicked the ball on to Jack Bannister who went one on one with the Lostock keeper and slotted the ball into the bottom corner of the Lostock net with only 47 seconds on the clock.

After only three minutes, Macclesfie­ld were unlucky not to be two up when Jonny Cavanagh forced the Lostock keeper in to a good save.

After missing another couple of good chances, Macclesfie­ld finally doubled their lead in the 40th minute.

Chris Allen found himself unmarked in the box and he fired the ball home.

Lostock started to get back into the game and put pressure on Macclesfie­ld, but with opposition players flooding forward, the ball was intercepte­d by James Wheeler and it was played forward to Lee Malkin who raced past their defence and calmly made it 3-0.

Lostock simply couldn’t handle the pace.

Macclesfie­ld weren’t finished and after the break they continued to press but squandered good chances.

A fourth goal didn’t look likely, but after 71 minutes, Malkin doubled his tally and

Lostock Gralam 16 10 3 3 11 33

AFC Macc

12 10 1 1 35 31

Warrington Tn 13 10 1 2 31 31 Mersey Valley 15 9 1 5 25 28 Halebank FC 9 7 1 1 14 22 FC St Helens 10 514 -6 16 W Dids & C 13 3 1 9 -10 10 Cheadle Town 7 214 -5 7 Unicorn Ath 11 2 1 8 -21 7 Cuddington FC 12 2 0 10 -27 6 Moore Utd FC 7 1 1 5 -18 4 Litherland R 11 1 0 10 -29 3 once again the Lostock defence couldn’t handle his pace.

Skipper and leading goal scorer Greg Mathers started the game on the bench due to concerns over an injury, but that didn’t stop him making it five when he entered the field of play late on in the game, to hit a trade mark rocket shot into the middle of the goal.

Overall, it was an all-round stunning performanc­e from the Macclesfie­ld team which leaves them two points behind Lostock Gralam with four games in hand.

 ??  ?? ●● Macclesfie­ld AFC were awarded the Fair Play award (new match balls) by the Cheshire League on Saturday. AFC manager Ed Haslam (left) and captain Greg Mathers are pictured with League chairman Rob Goodwin-Davey
●● Macclesfie­ld AFC were awarded the Fair Play award (new match balls) by the Cheshire League on Saturday. AFC manager Ed Haslam (left) and captain Greg Mathers are pictured with League chairman Rob Goodwin-Davey

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