The Silkmen slipped to their first defeat of the 2026/27 Enterprise National League North season in South Wales against Merthyr Town on Saturday afternoon.
John Rooney made just one change to the side that secured victory at home to Hebburn Town on Bank Holiday Monday, with Jon Ustabasi returning to the starting eleven in place of Theo Chapman.
The afternoon got off to a cagey start with neither side giving an inch in the opening stages, hindered by a stop start first period due to a number of minor injuries for each side. George Wilson was the first to register a shot on target of all 22 players on the pitch as he stung the palms of Jaimie Cogman in the Merthyr goal, though to no avail after seven minutes.
Morgan Wigley was a focal point for the hosts, immediately alerting Sam Heathcote and Tom Wilson in the centre of the Macc defence to his presence as he looked to break the effective offside trap set by the towering pairing.
Both ‘keepers were regularly in action inside the first quarter of an hour with both Cogman and Christian Dibble required to make some simple and some more reactionary saves, though nothing of real note which looked as though it would spell the opening goal of the game.
Spiers’ wicked deliveries from the right caused Dibble to be most cautious, whilst another two long-range efforts from George Wilson and Fin Shrimpton momentarily worried Cogman, though was equal to both strikes.
Sam Heathcote was in the thick of the action in the first half, making a number of important blocks, most recently combining with Cameron Borthwick-Jackson to deny Merthyr an opener, causing some discomfort for the latter who struggled to run off the injury before the hour mark.
Four minutes were added at the end of a relatively uneventful half in front of goal, though there was still plenty to be pleased about for both sides as they prepared to go in to the break goalless, which they eventually did after a stoppage for a medical incident in the crowd, which was dealt with effectively and swiftly by those in position to do so, with the half brought to a close after an extended period of stoppage time.
Heathcote was on hand to make a crucial intervention once more after the restart, which could’ve changed the course of the afternoon, though it was Adan George who would make the difference at the other end, courtesy of Cameron Borthwick-Jackson’s dangerous cross which Cogman couldn’t deal with under immense pressure from Macc’s number nine who forced the ball over the line from close range to give the Silkmen the lead after 55 minutes.
Despite providing a brilliant assist for George’s opener, Borthwick-Jackson was deemed unable to continue by a combination of himself and the backroom staff, who would attend to the stricken defender before signalling for a replacement, who would be Hassan Ayub, entering the action at right back with Ammar Dyer switching to the opposite flank.
Shrimpton almost grabbed a second for the Silkmen ten minutes later as he burst through on goal before letting fly, though was well denied by the outstretched hand of Cogman to tip the effort bound for the far corner round the post.
Rooney made his first unenforced change of the game with just less than 20 minutes to play as Matty Apter replaced Elliot Osborne in a tactical switch to further increase the Silkmen’s chances of recording three points in South Wales, before Danny Elliott also took the place of goalscorer Adan George with the same intentions and just less than fifteen minutes to play.
It was seconds later though when Macc’s hopes of a win were dashed by Jay Foulston’s headed equaliser from a deep cross at the back post to level proceedings with just over ten minutes to go.
It was from that point onwards that Macc’s tactics changed as they set up defensively to retain what would’ve been a valuable point on the road, with Dibble required to prevent Wigley from adding a second for the hosts.
Ammar Dyer was next to hit the deck with a fitness issue, though continued to play through the pain barrier from the 85th minute through until stoppage time, with Macc on the ropes in the dying minutes and requiring as much defensive reinforcement as possible.
Six minutes were added at the end of regulation time which seemed like an eternity for an already back-footed Macc who were attempting to cling on to a point for dear life, though were unable to do so with Elis Watts producing a spectacular scissor-kick, leaving Dibble rooted and powerless as the impressive strike flew in to the far top corner to break Macc hearts.
Ammar Dyer was eventually replaced by Theo Chapman following what would be Watts’ winner before referee Phillip Eddie would bring his whistle to his lips for the final time and spell the Silkmen’s first defeat of the 2026/27 season in South Wales.
Attendance: 1,589
MOTM: Adan George
Sponsored by Bollington Dental Practice
