The Silkmen maintained their unbeaten start to the 2026/27 Enterprise National League North season with a 2-1 comeback victory over Brackley Town at the Leasing.com Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
John Rooney made just two changes to the side that travelled to Spalding on Tuesday, with Tom Wilson making his competitive Silkmen debut, replacing Borthwick-Jackson, while Elliot Osborne came back in to the starting eleven in place of the injured Luis Lacey.
The Silkmen made a lively start and came close to opening the scoring inside the opening ten minutes. Lincoln McFayden brought the ball down superbly before seeing his effort rebound into the path of Adan George, whose low-driven strike forced an excellent save from Harrison Rhone.
Brackley responded with a chance of their own, although Dibble comfortably dealt with a dangerous cross as both sides traded opportunities during a frantic opening period. George continued to cause problems with his pace in behind the Brackley defence, while Jon Ustabasi saw a long-range effort deflected into the hands of Rhone.
Macclesfield began to dominate possession as the first half progressed, with a brilliant ball over the top finding Fin Shrimpton, although his resulting half-volley was simple for Rhone.
The visitors also grew further into the contest and came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock on 33 minutes. Christian Dibble produced an excellent save to keep out a low effort from a corner before recovering to claim Matt Lowe’s header on the line.
The visitors continued to apply pressure as half-time approached, with O’Shea Ellis’s dangerous delivery narrowly evading his teammates before Kieran Coates fired just over.
The visitors eventually found the breakthrough two minutes in to a minimum of four indicated at the end of the half after sustained pressure, as Ewan Williams reacted quickest to beat the onrushing Dibble to a loose ball and prodded into the top corner at full stretch to give Brackley a 1-0 lead.
The Silkmen were thrown a lifeline moments later however when Coates was shown a straight red card for a sub-par challenge on Lincoln McFayden. The full back was forced off as a result, with Danny Elliott introduced in his place just before the interval.
The dismissal changed the complexion of the contest after the restart, with Macc immediately looking the more dangerous side and setting the tone. George held the ball up well before laying off to Elliott, whose low drive across the face of goal struck the far post.
Brackley still threatened on the counter, as Kai Yearn was presented with a golden opportunity from inside the penalty area, but Tom Wilson produced a crucial block to deny him.
The Silkmen continued to dominate possession and repeatedly attacked down the flanks, eventually finding their breakthrough in the 68th minute. A well-weighted ball across the box from Luke Duffy found Ustabasi on the far edge of the six-yard box, who produced a neat volley past Harrison Rhone at the near post to level proceedings.
Just five minutes later, the turnaround was complete. After Luke Duffy drove forward down the left to then deliver a ball into the box which failed to meet a Silkmen head, Brackley surrendered the ball outside their own penalty area for Duffy to then calmly pass the ball round the goalkeeper and slot home to put Macclesfield ahead.
Brackley’s hopes of an equaliser were further damaged when Josh Tomlinson received a second yellow card in the 83rd minute, reducing the visitors to nine men for the closing stages.
Macclesfield comfortably saw out the remainder of the contest and almost added a third when George Wilson’s header was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Rhone.
Referee Jonathan Chadwick signalled the end of the contest after four additional minutes had been played, securing all three points for the Silkmen and extended their unbeaten start to the new campaign.
Attendance: 2,559 (44)
MOTM: Luke Duffy
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