Goal-hungry Silkmen in five-star showing
AN outstanding run of form now sees Macclesfield score 15 goals in the last three games following a triumphant 5-1 victory over Guiseley AFC on Saturday afternoon.
First-half successes from Lewis Fensome and Kane Drummond were followed by an own-goal, a penalty conversion from Alex Curran and ninth goal of the season for John Rooney to settle the Silks in third place.
Manager Alex Bruce produced an unchanged starting XI to the side that were involved in the 6-0 thrashing over Atherton Collieries last Tuesday evening, with new signing Oumar Niasse being named among the substitutes.
The Silkmen’s merciless Tuesday night victory involved goals from Paul Dawson and Rooney, with Drummond claiming all of the remaining four.
A positive start from the Silks saw Luke Duffy immediately get in behind the Guiseley backline, dancing past several white shirts and unleashing a
shot on goal but could only watch his effort get palmed away by Oliver Battersby.
However, optimistic despite an opening 15
minutes, Macc were soon trailing. Reece Kendall’s flawless ball into the area from the left flank met the head of Kallan Murphy, who cushioned an effort
past a flat-footed Dylan Berry to give the visitors the lead.
The Silkmen then looked to hit back through Dawson, but his drilled effort from 30 yards was tipped wide.
Exceptional skill from Duffy soon provided another opportunity for Macc to equalise after the Macclesfield winger beat his man before squaring it back for Dawson, but his powerful effort from inside the area was well blocked by the outstretched leg of Kendall.
Following a dominant run of play from the hosts, the goal that seemed inevitable soon arrived.
Drummond drove into the area from the left-wing before rolling a ball square into the six-yard area where Fensome was awaiting, wasting no opportunity in tapping home a leveller in front of the Bath Shack Star Lane End.
It then didn’t take long for Macc to fire ahead, with the in-form Drummond turning the game around.
After assisting the first less than five minutes earlier, Drummond was first to react to Rooney’s inswinging corner, guiding a headed effort onto the underside of the crossbar and in to claim his sixth goal in three games, nodding his side 2-1 up in the process.
Following the goals, Tre Pemberton was forced into substitution after picking up a knock, making way for Sam Heathcote before heading straight down the tunnel, accompanied by a consoling applause.
A convincing start to the second-half saw Macc settle comfortably into their rhythm of the first, making their opponents chase their dominance in possession.
Circumstances soon worsened for Guiseley, after Macc were able to double their advantage in a rather unfortunate manner.
Rooney’s corner ball from the right ricocheted off the head of Leigh Whelan on the way into the penalty area, making for an extraordinary owngoal after the Guiseley centre-half turned it into his own net.
The conditions failed to improve for the visitors after Drummond was taken down inside the area, causing the referee to award Macc a penalty.
The trusted Alex Curran was quick to place the ball down on the spot, stepping up and converting successfully to register his 15th goal of the season, despite Battersby getting a touch to it.
The Silkmen’s second change of the afternoon saw Neil Kengni come on to replace Alex Hurst.
Macc still continued to push for more with Kengni getting involved promptly, unselfishly squaring it to Curran whose stretched effort from point-blank range was well stopped by Battersby.
After being directly involved on several occasions, Rooney was able to top-off the game with a fifth.
Duffy’s high effort from outside the area was clawed away by Battersby, but only into the path of Rooney who feigned the initial effort, causing Ollie Brown to fall to the floor in an attempt to block it, before burying it into the bottom left corner.
Bruce’s final change of the game saw Curran make way for Luke Mariette.
Heading into injury time it seemed as if Macc would claim a sixth after Drummond found himself one-on-one with Battersby, but a delayed attempt to pull the trigger allowed the Guiseley ‘keeper to comfortably collect.
The Silkmen now turn their attention to Saturday 2nd December, where they will travel to Bamber Bridge in hope to continue their rich run of form.
MACCLESFIELD: Berry, Pemberton,
Lee, Fensome, Mendy, Dawson, Hurst, Drummond, Curran, Rooney, Duffy GUISELEY: Battersby, Brown, Kendall, Whelan, Walker, Ible, Pratt, Ekpolo, Murphy, Johnson, Jordi
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