The Silkmen secured another victory away from home on Saturday afternoon at Curzon Ashton in the Enterprise National League North, the goals courtesy of James Edmondson and Luke Duffy.
One enforced change was made by John Rooney to the starting XI that dismantled Marine on Tuesday evening, as the suspended Josh Kay was replaced by Paul Dawson, having served his own two game ban for an accumulation of too many bookings.
The Silkmen started the brighter of the two teams from the get go, as James Gale and James Edmondson both gave the Curzon defence cause for concern inside the first five minutes, though neither effort was enough to give Macc an early lead.
Birthday boy Isaac Buckley-Ricketts came closest to making it advantage Macc on the ten minute mark as he saw his low drive cleared off the line and behind for a corner, from which Captain Paul Dawson fast approached the deep delivery though couldn’t quite connect on his return to the side.
Rogan Ravenhill made his presence felt between the posts following early tests from James Spencer and Tony Weston, though neither overly troubled the big shot-stopper, although getting down quickly to prevent the latter’s effort which was otherwise straight forward for our number 26.
Down at the other end, Josh Ollerenshaw in the Curzon goal was forced in to evasive action as James Edmondson’s wicked corner almost dropped in behind the ‘keeper directly from the flag, though spared his blushes as he managed to tip the dangerous set piece away from danger.
The hosts were forced in to the first of two first half changes due to injury just before the half hour mark as Captain James Spencer was unable to continue with what looked to be a dislocated arm or shoulder, he was replaced by Jack Stobbs.
Paul Dawson and Sam Heathcote both had speculative attempts on goal following the game’s first stoppage, though neither could find the target with their respective efforts from range.
Play was then suspended as the clock ticked over to the 30th minute due to a medical emergency in the away end. The alarm was raised by the Silkmen supporters on the far side, alerting the match officials and both physio teams, whose quick responses were crucial as the latter were able to swiftly and effectively deal with the incident prior to helping the supporter back to his feet, allowing the teams to re-take to the field having briefly left as per protocol, and the game to resume twelve minutes later.
It was almost immediately after the unanticipated restart that the Silkmen found a breakthrough as Isaac Buckley-Ricketts’ deep cross was turned home by James Edmondson at the back post from a tight angle, getting the Silkmen in front with two minutes of regulation time remaining in the first half.
Fourteen minutes were added prior to the interval following the aforementioned emergency, throughout which Macc promptly went in search of a second, though settled for a one goal lead at the half way point.
Appeals for a Silkmen penalty were waved away by referee Shaun Taylor shortly after the interval, as James Gale went to ground inside the six yard box, though the man in the middle deemed the challenge to be fair as play continued.
Luke Duffy deservedly doubled Macc’s lead nine minutes in to the second half, slamming home a loose ball inside the Curzon area, with the home side unable to clear their lines following Buckley-Ricketts’ initial effort and the goalscorer’s follow up, before Duffy was third time lucky.
Buckley-Ricketts continued to be a thorn in Curzon’s side as he came close once again to a birthday goal, not satisfied with his assist, firing narrowly wide of the far top corner with Ollerenshaw rooted to the spot.
Sam Heathcote ensured there was no way back for the Nash as he made a crucial goal-line clearance moments later, which otherwise had the potential to swing the momentum pendulum in the home side’s favour.
John Rooney made his first change with eighteen minutes to play as Heathcote was replaced as a precaution having briefly received treatment, taking his place was Rollin Menayese.
In a period of pressure from the hosts, Ravenhill also did well to hold on to Tony Weston’s rasping effort from close range, albeit from a tight angle, though was on target.
A further Macc change was made ten minutes from time as Luis Lacey replaced Kacper Pasiek at left back, just prior to which James Edmondson almost added his second and Macc’s third as he saw his half-volley cannon back off the inside of the post, coming agonisingly close to putting the result beyond all doubt.
Another appeal for a penalty for Macc was disregarded by Taylor as an apparent handball wasn’t penalised inside the Curzon area with Macc smelling blood as time ticked away.
Two more changes were made with a minute of regulation time remaining as Lewis Fensome and Carlos Dos Santos took the places of Luke Matheson and James Edmondson for the final stage of the game,
Four minutes were added on, at the beginning of which Mikey Stone was Macc’s final substitute to enter the fray, replacing Luke Duffy as the Silkmen were content with running the clock down with seconds left.
Taylor soon after signalled the end of the contest to confirm another three points for the Silkmen on the road, making it maximum points from the latest two fixtures, both away from home.
Attendance: 923
MOTM: James Edmondson
