AFC brave conditions to collect points
AFC Macclesfield returned to action last Saturday after two weeks off due to postponements and with only seven league games remaining, they’ve reached the business end of the season.
They made the short journey to Warrington to face Moore United where conditions were poor with strong winds and rain.
With barely a minute on the clock, the home team had their first chance of the game. A long ball from the back was misjudged by the Macclesfield back line and the Moore front man collected the ball to go one on one with Macclesfield keeper Dom Chell. Chell was equal to it and turned the ball around the post for a corner. The resulting corner was cleared and Macclesfield were let off the hook.
Macclesfield’s first chance of the game fell to Matt Horton. With superb link up play, he found himself free in a crowded penalty area and got his shot away but the keeper made the save. The ball fell to Horton again but once again, the keeper saved.
Macclesfield started to dominate the game. Midfielders Sam Williamson and Jonny Cavanagh were dictating the play and with forty minutes on the clock, Cavanagh played a superb through ball to skipper Greg Mathers who let fly from the edge of the box and found the bottom corner of the Moore net, leaving the keeper no chance.
After the break, Macclesfield pushed for the second but with the conditions worsening, it became difficult for both teams to play football.
On the hour mark, Macclesfield got their much needed second goal.
Jack Banister beat the offside trap to go one on one with the on rushing Moore keeper, Banister delicately chipped the ball over the keeper and into the net.
Manager Ed Haslam freshened up the team and gave Chris Smith his debut, to give the team more options on the right side. Elliot Bruce came on to shore up the midfield.
After less than five minutes on the pitch, Smith gathered the ball and raced past the Moore defence. With only the keeper to beat, Smith rounded the keeper but was was stopped in his tracks when the keeper brought him down.
The referee deemed it to be on the edge of the box and no penalty. The resulting free kick came to nothing.
Nathan Jackson came on to replace tired legs and straight away, created a chance for Macclesfield, but unfortunately, it came to nothing. Jackson was again involved in the play, out jumping his marker to nick the ball away from the Moore striker who looked certain to score.
Sam Williamson was awarded Man of the Match, controlling the midfield and dictating the pace of the game.
AFC Macclesfield remain top of the league, six points ahead and two games in hand over their nearest rivals.