Ideal response lifts Macc into play-offs
AFTER dropping points for the first time since taking charge the week previous, Macclesfield boss Michael Clegg’s side have responded well by stringing together two victories in one week.
An away trip to Stafford Rangers last Tuesday evening saw the Silks claim a 3-1 victory following goals from Tre Pemberton, Luke Duffy and substitute Tom Clare on his return to the club.
Four days later, a Tunde Owolabi hat-trick saw Macc sweep aside Morpeth Town 3-0 and, in turn, re-enter the play-offs.
The Belgian converted from the spot on the quarter-of-an-hour mark, he then saw a second penalty saved by goalkeeper Dan Lowson, but was in the correct position to stroke a second into an empty net.
The forward claimed his much anticipated third after nodding home Tre Pemberton’s ball in from the right to secure all three points, despite the Silkmen boss believing his side could have been better.
“The game got a little bit frustrating in the middle third of the match”, said Clegg.
“But I thought we started the match like a house on fire and we ended it strong, clean sheet, at this time of the season you can’t ask for much more.
“What we want is to be organised and structured without the ball because you’re in the [Northern Premier League], there’s going to be times when you come under pressure.
“We’re not just going to be on at people for 90 minutes every game, you are going to have to withstand pressure at some point in games and think we’re coping with that a little bit better.”
Morpeth went into Saturday’s clash in 11th place having just won two of their last 10 games away from home. They inflicted defeat against Macc in the reverse fixture last October, when first-half strikes from Michael Turner and Fenton John sunk the Silkmen 2-0 at Craik Park.
“Morpeth are a tricky customer to deal with, their gaffer [Craig Lynch] is a top guy, he always has these teams playing the right way.
“But in the first couple of minutes we were unlucky not to get a couple of goals and there probably could have been a few more for us.
“The middle third of the game got a bit boring but you’re 2-0, they’re trying to do all they can, they know how dangerous we are in the spaces so it’s just a game of cat and mouse.
“But like I said, the lads have managed it and they deserve all the credit because they’ve bounced back from this time last week brilliantly and I’m really proud of them.”
After John Rooney received a red card away at Worksop Town, he began his three-match suspension on Saturday meaning Clegg had the job of re-shaping the midfield.
“Obviously John [Rooney] is a massive miss, Alex Curran would normally go in there but he’s injured so [Luke Duffy] wanted to do that role and I thought he did it really well,” he said.
“He got on all the setplays as well, we had a really well worked corner for the second penalty which we’d worked on and all credit to Lewis Hardcastle, he works really hard on his setpieces.
“He’s a fantastic young coach so that was a good one for him.
“[Duffy] has done alright in there, it’s always going to be hard to do what John Rooney and Alex Curran do but we’ve scored three goals, we’ve got a clean sheet, we’ve got three points, it’s a good day.”
In-form man Owolabi proved his worth on Saturday by netting his first Silkmen hat-trick.
The Belgian forward has hit the ground running at Macclesfield, scoring nine goals in 12 games.
“I go back years with Tunde [Owolabi], when I was manager at Atherton [Collieries] and us and Radcliffe were nip-andtuck for the league. He’s given me some bad days in my time,” said Clegg.
“I’m happy he’s in my camp now, he’s a great lad, always wants to learn, always wants to do well and he gives you everything he’s got every single week.
“I was made-up for Tunde because he’s been a couple of games without a goal so to get a hat-trick at home and get taken off with 15-18 minutes to go, he might have grabbed another.”
The Silkmen now face huge tests in the run for promotion, as well as having gotten to the semifinals of the FA Trophy.
After Tuesday’s trip to Ashton United, the Silkmen entertain FC United of Manchester on Good Friday before Easter Monday’s away game at Hyde United.
With more fixtures than weeks remaining in the season, they have a busy calendar consisting of both midweek and weekend fixtures.
Clegg added: “Every game in this league is tough. We’re Macclesfield, everywhere we go people want to make it a bit more difficult, but we’ll be looking for three points, nothing more, nothing less.”