The Silkmen secured a 2-1 victory in their final home fixture of the 2025/26 Enterprise National League North season against Southport on Tuesday evening
John Rooney named four changes from the side that fell to defeat at the same venue on Saturday afternoon with Sam Heathcote, Luis Lacey, Isaac Buckley-Ricketts and Elliot Osborne returning to the starting eleven.
An early opportunity fell kindly for James Gale, who connected well with Isaac Buckley-Ricketts’ cut back, though the move was halted by the referee’s whistle inside the opening couple of minutes.
Jordan Slew squandered Southport’s first opportunity of the evening as a misplaced pass out from the back was capitalised on, finding an unmarked Slew in a central position who fortunately spooned his first time effort over Ravenhill’s crossbar before the ten minute mark.
James Edmondson responded for the Silkmen with a dinked effort on the volley which dropped just the wrong side of a back-tracking George Pickford’s crossbar.
Josh Kay requiring treatment after seventeen minutes signalled a premature end to his night, as he was replaced by Carlos Dos Santos
Southport came closest so far to an opener as Malakai McKenzie was alive to a loose ball, reading the pass and driving at Ravenhill, who was forced in to a smart stop before Heathcote could clear.
Substitute Dos Santos then found Buckley-Ricketts with a well weighted through ball, allowing the winger to drive at the heart of the Southport defence before attempting to cut back to the young midfielder, though couldn’t quite manage to find him.
James Edmondson unlocked the Southport defence with a piece of individual brilliance as we reached the half hour mark, playing James Gale in behind to round Pickford, though was halted by the linesman’s flag.
The Silkmen continued to mount their charge on the Southport goal as Carlos Dos Santos picked the ball up in a dangerous area with a appeals for a penalty led by James Gale waved away, riding the challenge of two men before striking the far post.
Luke Duffy was next to have an effort on goal, though couldn’t keep his effort down as the positive momentum was maintained midway through the half.
James Gale was almost on the end of Luke Matheson’s low cross, connecting minimally with the low driven cross as an opportunity passed Macc by once more.
There was nothing to split the sides at the break after four minutes of added time with Macc a fraction more in the ascendancy having dominated the possession and chances in the later stages of the half.
Carlos Dos Santos was the liveliest of the Silkmen eleven just two minutes after the restart, delivering a low cross bound for James Gale, which he couldn’t quite connect with at full stretch.
Luke Matheson also came close to giving Macc the lead, but couldn’t convert his chipped attempt with the ball not sitting kindly for him whilst heading for goal at full chat.
Isaac Buckley-Ricketts was the man to eventually break the deadlock after 54 minutes, with Luke Duffy grounded inside the area, appealing for a penalty, Buckley-Ricketts was alive to the chance, smashing the ball home high in to the roof of the net.
A mix-up at the back for Macc fortunately wasn’t costly with Cameron Borthwick-Jackson playing the ball out of play to safety to avoid further issue.
James Edmondson’s low drive followed which was simple for Pickford, though showed signs of intent for a second goal for the Silkmen.
It was Southport who grabbed the next goal of the game as substitute Danny Lloyd tapped home after Ravenhill spilled a low effort from the edge of the area just after the hour mark.
Ravenhill spared any blushes as Lloyd went for goal again less than ten minutes later, parrying over the deflected effort for a corner, comfortably dealt with by the shot-stopper.
Elliot Osborne thought he’d reinstated the Silkmen’s lead after Duffy had carried the ball as far as he could inside the area before laying off for his fellow midfielder, whose placed effort was pushed round the post by Pickford with fifteen minutes to play.
Lloyd was denied another chance to dampen Silkmen spirits as Sam Heathcote stepped in with impeccable timing to make a vital block as the tricky creative midfielder set to shoot.
Lewis Fensome was introduced with twelve left on the clock, replacing Luke Matheson for the closing stages at full back.
Buckley-Ricketts then went in search of his second, dragging a low effort narrowly wide of the near post before Luis Lacey’s dangerous cross asked questions of Pickford as it almost dropped in unexpectedly at the near post, though just about had the attempt covered with impromptu positioning.
The effectiveness of Fensome’s involvement from the bench was evident as he restored Macc’s lead six minutes from time with Duffy forcing Pickford in to a smart stop, parrying only as far as Fensome who slotted home the rebound to swing the game back in Macc’s favour.
Lacey was keen to add a third soon after, though firing only in to the side netting from a tight angle as he looked to make sure of the three points.
Luke Griffiths’ free kick two minutes from time in a precarious position failed to test Ravenhill before Rollin Menayese and Theo Chapman were introduced in place of Luis Lacey and James Gale to see the game out.
Five minutes were added at the end of the regulation 90, despite what looked as though it could be a final stint in the tail, a dangerous corner was halted for a free kick, immediately after which the Silkmen brought their home games of the regular Enterprise National League season to an end with a 2-1 victory,
Macc will face Radcliffe away from home in their final game of the season on Saturday afternoon before returning to the Leasing.com Stadium at least once more next Wednesday for their play-off eliminator B fixture.
Attendance: 2,827 (125)
MOTM: Isaac Buckley-Ricketts
