The Silkmen delivered another thrilling comeback from two goals down to overcome South Shields 4-3 at the Leasing.com Stadium on Saturday as John Rooney’s men went top of the Enterprise National League North courtesy of Danny Elliott’s second-half winner.
Macc trailed after Paul Blackett and Jordan Jones put Shields ahead inside 12 minutes before Josh Kay pulled one back on the half-hour. Shields extended their lead through Cedwyn Scott prior to Cameron Borthwick-Jackson heading in from a corner to cap off a five-goal first-half.
However, the Silkmen responded in emphatic fashion following half-time, with Jon Ustabasi equalising early into the half. Elliott’s goal proved decisive to complete a stunning turnaround in East Cheshire in front of a crowd of 2,767 supporters.
Manager Rooney made two changes from Tuesday night’s Emirates FA Cup victory away at Scarborough Athletic, with captain Paul Dawson, who missed out through injury, and Elliot Osborne replaced by Tom Wilson and Matty Apter coming into the starting line-up.
The first chance of the game came inside five minutes in when Blackett ran onto Scott’s lofted pass, holding off a challenge from Wilson to strike at goal from the right-side of the box, but Christian Dibble was well-positioned to get a strong left-hand to the shot and turn the ball over the crossbar.
Mike Williamson’s Mariners were ahead on eight minutes after Scott played Blackett in the box, who rolled a left-footed strike under Dibble.
South Shields scored their second four minutes later after Blackett’s ball picked out Jones down the right, who got the better of Borthwick-Jackson to race into the box and convert his left-footed strike which beat Dibble and found the bottom left-corner.
Rooney’s men halved the deficit on the half-hour when Elliott profited from positive build-up play to deliver a low cross from the left for Kay to find space in the box to fire under goalkeeper Jasper Sheik.
Almost immediately following the restart, Shields attacked the Macc goal, with Dibble standing up tall to superbly thwart Toby Onanaye in a one-on-one situation.
South Shields restored their two-goal advantage with 42 minutes played when Scott hit a first-time shot with his right-foot past Dibble into the bottom left-corner.
Macc pulled one back in the final minute of the half, with Borthwick-Jackson meeting Luke Duffy’s enticing corner from the right in a crowded box to guide a powerful header past Sheik.
The Silkmen drew level three minutes into the second-half after Ustabasi raced onto a ball down the left to cut inside onto his right-foot, with his shot from inside the box deflecting and looping over Sheik.
Buoyed by their leveller, the Silkmen searched for a fourth, going close when Elliott broke up field, but his left-footed strike lacked power and was comfortable for Sheik.
Rooney made his first substitute of the game on the hour, as George Wilson replaced Apter.
Macc were pushing for another, and Duffy went close for the Silkmen after his shot which fizzed across the turf was deflected behind for a corner. The resulting set-piece was cleared by Shields.
The Silkmen were ahead for the first time on 69 minutes courtesy of skipper Elliott, who was assisted by Wilson’s defence-splitting through ball to go one-on-one with Sheik, as the forward thumped a left-footed effort past the Shields stopper, who could not keep out the shot despite getting a hand to the ball, to the delight of the Star Lane End terrace.
Rooney then made a late double change, with Adan George and Osborne coming on for Kay and Elliott.
In the closing stages, Dibble produced a brilliant reaction stop to drop down well to his left and claw a deflected effort which was creeping towards goal. Macc navigated the following five minutes of added time to stand firm and complete an outstanding comeback, which moved them top of the sixth-tier.
The Silkmen are back at the Leasing.com Stadium next Saturday for an Emirates FA Cup Fourth-Round Qualifying tie Anstey Nomads. Purchase your tickets by clicking here.
Attendance: 2,767
MOTM: Josh Kay
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