DELIGHT FOR AS HE STARTS BOSS CLEGG WITH A FLYER
NEW Macclesfield manager Michael Clegg praised his players for ‘rolling their sleeves up’ after beginning his reign with victory against fellow high-flyers Marine.
First half goals from Tunde Owolabi and John Rooney proved enough to give Clegg a winning start.
“It was scrappy,” he admitted. “I don’t think it’ll be the best performance of the season, but I think we’ve shown a different side to us today. The lads have shown that they can roll their sleeves up and get stuck in.”
The Silkmen started on the front foot and took the lead after just seven minutes through Owolabi, who got on the end of a pass into the box and finished in style.
Laurent Mendy had a chance a few minutes earlier, a header that went just over the bar.
Macclesfield had the chance to double their lead soon after. Kane Drummond made space on the left and had his effort well saved.
Ex-Mariner Neil Kengni should have scored after a slick counter-attack in the 25th minute but blasted well over the bar.
Marine came back into the game and had a couple of opportunities themselves. Owen Robinson and Owen Windsor were the culprits of missing their chances.
It proved to be costly as Rooney doubled the Macclesfield lead in the 39th minute.
Drummond made great progress along the left-hand side and cut the ball back to Rooney, who slotted the ball past the keeper to make it two.
The Mariners responded swiftly and pulled a goal back just before half-time. Josh Wardle smashed the ball home from close range to reduce the arrears.
Marine made the stronger start to the second half and looked the more likely to get the fourth goal in the game.
This set the tone for the remainder of the contest, with Macclesfield looking to run the clock down while the Mariners pushed on for the equaliser.
Despite Marine throwing the kitchen sink at the Silkmen, Clegg’s team hung on to take the all-important three points.