Macclesfield FC started life in the Enterprise National League North with a comfortable 3-1 win over Worksop Town on Saturday.
In his first competitive game as manager, John Rooney said he ‘couldn’t be more pleased’ with the Silk’s start in a new division. The Silkmen boss did, however, reflect on a ‘scrappy’ first 20 minutes that saw the Silkmen go 1-0 down after Aleks Starcenko scored from close range.
Rooney said:
“The first 20 minutes, I thought it was a little bit scrappy, which we knew coming into the new season, that on the first day of the new season, on a warm day, all games start like that.
“After that, I thought we were outstanding once we got our goal after they scored. I thought only one team was going to go on and win the game.”
With the visitors threatening consistently over the early exchanges, both Brandon Lee, with a goal-line clearance, and Max Dearnley, who pulled off a tremendous save, were called into action to prevent the Tigers from stretching their lead further. The 34-year-old said that his team put their bodies on the line, and that’s what he expects of his players.
The Macclesfield boss said:
“We were putting bodies on the line, blocking shots and defending well. But I know we have that in us and our players from last season, I know they will give me that. We went up the other end, and Danny (Elliot) scored with a great finish.
“At half-time, we said they (Worksop) looked dead on their feet and only one team was going to win it. I just thought in possession, we could have been a little bit tidier, and once we did that in the second half, I thought we were outstanding.”
With a gruelling pre-season in soaring temperatures, it seemed to look worth its while for the Silks as they outran their opposition and thrived in the second period, maintaining their high levels of energy and fitness. Having labelled pre-season as a long, but positive ‘slog’, the former player turned manager thought his side were by far the fitter side on the pitch.
The 34-year-old said:
“Oh, by a country mile, anyone watching that could see that we are fit. They went for 90 minutes, and they gave me everything they’ve got and emptied the tank. The lads who came on to see the game out were outstanding. As I told them (the bench) before the game, I’m going to need every one of them this year, but I couldn’t be any more pleased after my first game as manager.
“To go and get three points, I would have taken three points in any way, but to do it how we did it today was superb.”
As is a constant, the super support from the Macclesfield fans did not disappoint, with 3,034 packed inside the Leasing.com Stadium. For what is an incredible support base, that tops the 25/26 attendance record in the league by over 300 fans, it did not shock the manager, who labelled the crowds as the twelfth man in SK11.
Rooney said:
“Unbelievable, but I didn’t expect anything less. I know what these fans are about. I have played here before, played here again last season. I know what the fans are about; they are going to get right behind us, and you could see that when we went 1-0 down, they were still behind us, and that’s what these fans give, and they are our twelfth man. We’re not just saying that we mean it, and we can’t thank the fans enough. After that today, I wish the next game was tomorrow, but it was some feeling today, an outstanding feeling.”
With three points from a possible three, the Silks sit top of the table in the Enterprise National League North and will be looking to retain that position next Saturday, August 16, when they travel to Oxford City FC.
