Application disappoints Macc chief
CHORLEY dominated from start to finish in a 4-1 victory at NPL Division One new boys Macclesfield.
The visitors bossed the opening 15 minutes and after Adam Blakeman almost scored from 50 yards, Jack Sampson found the net from 20; a rasping left footed drive that gave Joe Mason no chance.
Blakeman and Will Tomlinson fired over and wide respectively from far out, as Andy Preece’s side looked to press home the early advantage. Then, from a Tomlinson free kick, Connor Hall stabbed home number two after Scott Leather and Sampson had efforts blocked.
Former Magpie Andy Owens finished well to reduce the deficit just before the half hour, but the response from Chorley was emphatic. Hall went clean through off an Ollie Shenton pass, and although his initial shot was saved, the rebound found Shenton who rolled home.
Harvey Smith & Jon Ustabasi came on at the break and it was flying winger Ustabasi who almost made it four – Mason denying him with a superb save.
The resulting corner saw Blakeman hit the post and Mike Calveley’s rebound saved.
Chorley’s fourth and final tally came after the introduction of more substitutes – one of those, Harry Scarborough, won and dispatched a penalty to seal the win with 18 minutes remaining.
Chorley boss Andy Preece said: “The positives are Sampo getting a goal and more minutes for Harvey and Bashi. We expected a stronger Macclesfield team, because at this stage of pre-season we needed a tougher test, but we can only beat what’s in front of us.”
Macclesfield boss Danny Whitaker said: “It was a very testing evening – they put a very strong team out, obviously we made a few changes so it was always going to be tough and we’d said to the lads they could expect it to be tough.
“The disappointing thing for me was the application from the majority of the players. There was two or three who really aplied themselves and hit the expectations that we set, but certain others fell well short in that department.
“We haven’t just suddenly changed our philosophy on how we play in and out of possession, so it was disappointing to see (standards slip) because I’d said to the lads before the game that there were places available, shirts available. If that were me I’d be taking the bit between my teeth and showing the manager and his staff just what I’m capable of and saying ‘I want a place in the team.’
“It’s about going out there and giving the best version of yourself. You might give the ball away, we understand that, but it’s your reactions – go and get it back or get into a good shape, go and help your teammates.
“From that perspective it’s disappointing, but we’ve learnt a lot tonight, me and the staff.”
MACCLESFIELD:
Mason (Byrne, 82); Pemberto:n, Grimshaw (Blake, 72) Bell, Cowan, McColl, Freedman (Ryan, 72), Djalo (Aderinto, 72), Owens (Beca, 72), Bower, Kiwomya (McDonald, 72).
Urwin; Henley, Blakeman (Price-Jordan, 73), Wilson (Smith, 46), Leather (c) (Isherwood, 62), Shenton (Ustabaşı, 46), Whitehouse, Tomlinson (Trialist, 46), Sampson (Scarborough, 62), Hall (Okome, 69), Calveley. Subs not used: Barry.
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