The Silkmen’s unbeaten home record came to an end as they were defeated 2-1 at home with nine men by Hereford in a top-of-the-table Enterprise National League North clash.
Despite a stunning strike from Luke Duffy, the Silkmen were defeated after goals from Aaron Skinner and Harrison Iwunze proved decisive, with Macc having Elliot Osborne and Josh Kay sent off at the Leasing.com Stadium.
Manager John Rooney made one change from Tuesday night’s 3-0 triumph in the Emirates FA Cup at Anstey Nomads, as Osborne came in for Cameron Borthwick-Jackson.
On a wet and windy afternoon in East Cheshire, Hereford had the ball in the net through Danny Waldron’s finish, but the goal was ruled out for a push.
Macc’s first chance of the game when Kay did well to win back possession before driving up field to find Danny Elliott, who turned his marker to shoot low from distance which was saved by goalkeeper Theo Richardson.
The Silkmen were reduced to 10 men on 15 minutes by referee Jonathan Chadwick after Osborne pulled down Waldron in the box as he tried to follow up Luke Spokes’ shot which Christian Dibble could not keep hold of.
Skinner beat Dibble with his right-boot from 12-yards, striking down the middle to put the Bulls in front.
Rooney’s men had two opportunities at goal in quick succession. Kay twisted and turned to stand up a cross from the right to the back post for Elliott to strike over Richardson’s crossbar, prior to Duffy cutting in from the left and curling off target.
In the closing five minutes of the half, Dibble pushed Spokes’ effort into the path of Skinner, who sliced the rebound wide with his left-foot.
Dibble then made an important save when he diverted Waldron’s shot behind for a corner at the front post in a one-on-one situation
A minute into the second-half, play was paused due to standing water on the pitch.
When the game resumed, the Silkmen equalised on 52 minutes after Duffy slammed a powerful effort from 25-yards which arrowed beyond Richardson’s dive to find the left-corner.
Aaron Downes’ visitors regained their lead with 58 minutes played when Billy Phillips’ picked out Iwunze with a weighted pass on the left, with the forward slotting low across goal and into Dibble’s bottom right-corner.
Macc were then reduced to nine men on the hour after Kay was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Midway through the half, Rooney introduced Adan George and Paul Dawson, who replaced Fin Shrimpton and Elliott.
Pushing for an equaliser late on, Ammar Dyer bent an effort which was blocked before Dawson and George both went close from Macc corners. Dibble was then called into action to make an excellent double save, thwarting Cawley Cox and Phillips, as Macc were narrowly defeated.
The Silkmen return to action on Tuesday night away at Southport, kick-off 7:45pm. Purchase your tickets by clicking here.
MOTM: Ammar Dyer
Attendance: 3,235
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