Bootle put boot into unbeaten home sequence
MACCLESFIELD .............. 1 BOOTLE ............................. 2
MACCLESFIELD’S unbeaten home record came to an end on Saturday afternoon, after an injury time winner left the hosts distraught.
Bootle found the persistency to come back from a one goal deficit, thanks to Ben Hodkinson’s second half brace.
Three changes were made to the starting XI that were involved in the 5-0 victory against Kidsgrove in midweek, with Lewis Fensome, Brandon Lee and Tom Clare all returning.
It was the Silkmen who set the tone, with chance coming straight away from Alex Curran.
After receiving the ball on the half turn, his fierce shot flew just wide of the mark.
James Berry then danced past several players before slotting it into the path of Nicky Maynard, however his dinked effort was well stopped by Sam Ashton.
Ashton played an integral part in Macc’s title winning season, before leaving to join today’s opposition earlier this year. The 35-year-old received a warm welcome from the Macclesfield supporters.
Berry then took an outswinging corner deep into the box where Laurant Mendy was waiting.
The captain headed it back into the middle where Joe Bunney was able to wrap his foot around the ball, his shot ricocheting off the crossbar and in.
Despite the goal not being awarded initially, a brief conversation between the referee and fourth official led to Macc being granted the goal and taking the lead.
That now makes it three goals in three games for Bunney after the central defender found the back of the net against both Kidsgrove and Widnes respectively.
Protests from the visitors resulted in the distribution of a yellow card.
Macc then came close to finding the back of the net yet again after Neil Danns provided a slick cut back for Maynard, however his effort was impressively cleared off the line.
Down the opposite end, a stretched block was required by Lee and allowed Macc to break. However, Berry was denied access into the visitors’ half after he was brought down and the offender was booked.
Five minutes later, Macc received another free kick out on the left flank. A looping delivery from Berry was met by the foot of goalscorer Bunney, however he was unable to replicate what occurred 20 minutes earlier.
It was Bootle’s turn to pose a threat which they attempted through Tom Peterson. Jay Roberts played in a curling cross but Peterson was unable to beat Fensome to the header.
Nervousness grew among the Macc supporters as it became clear that a second goal for the hosts would be a necessity if they hoped to leave with all three points.
Manager Danny Whitaker then made a double change, with Danns and Maynard making way for Tre Pemberton and Tom Clare respectively.
Just two minutes later, Bootle found the back of the net. A lapse in concentration and clear miscommunication led to a poor mistake in defence. Peterson dispossessed Bunney before laying it off for Hodkinson who was able to roll it into the bottom corner past Pitaluga.
Mark Duffy came on to replace Luke Murphy.
Duffy became immediately involved after receiving Neil Kengni’s lay off on the edge of the box. Duffy created himself enough space for a shot, however the powerful effort was well denied by the right palm of Ashton.
The Silkmen then came extremely close once again to taking the lead after Pemberton found himself in a plethora of space inside the area
however his attempt was directly at Ashton, with the rebound soaring high and wide of the mark.
Bootle were able to counter attack with pace which turned out to be devastating for Macc. Andy Scarisbrick progressed down the left flank, beating Lee before squaring it for Hodkinson who was there to smash in a winner from point blank range, erupting the away end into a cacophonic roar.
Silkmen heads dropped as the visitors slowed the tempo of the game in order to see out the win.
Macc’s next fixture sees them entertain Bamber Bridge at the Leasing. com Stadium on Saturday 8th October in the next round of the Isuzu FA Trophy.
MACCLESFIELD: Pitaluga, Fensome, Lee, Bunney, Mendy, Murphy, Kengni, Danns, Maynard, Curran, Berry
BOOTLE: Ashton, Roberts, Rain,
Cooper, McCarten, Wills, Putnam, Welsh, Peterson, Scarisbrick, Hodkinson
Peter Brown
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