MATCH REPORT: ILKESTON TOWN (H)

18 Feb 2024

Share:

John Rooney scored a hat trick to secure all three points for Alex Bruce’s side.

Rooney’s goal in the 88th minute cemented the victory when he turned quickly and hit the ball into the bottom left corner.

The 33-year-old scored his first just before halftime after he received the ball from Bohan Dixon and calmly slotted it beyond the keepers reach.

He scored the other from the penalty spot in the 77th minute after Sam Heathcote was brought down in the box.

Rooney smashed the ball down the middle sending Matt Yates the wrong way.

Tunde Owolabi caused chaos upfront scoring two with his first coming as the opener in the sixth minute when he charged into the box and struck the ball into the right side of the net.

The forward scored his second in the 85th minute to put the Silkmen in front by dribbling around the goalkeeper and putting the ball into an empty goal.

Tom Cursons scored in the 8th minute to equalise early in the first half when he received the ball from a corner and poked the ball into the goal.

Declan Eratt-Thompson sent a cross from the left to Jonathan Wafula who scored to put the away side ahead in the 19th minute.

Thomas Marshall put away an incredible free kick from far out in the 54th minute which went way beyond Dylan Berry’s reach.

Owolabi had two goals ruled out in the opening ten minutes for offside which added to the intense atmosphere throughout the game.

Yates was forced into action with an unbelievable double save after Lewis Fensome’s header was pushed away and fell to Owolabi who was denied inside the six-yard box.

Heathcote came close to grabbing a goal when Kane Drummond shot wide, but he was unable to tap it into the net at full stretch.

Owolabi also hit the post from close range and had an effort cleared off the line by Marshall.

This result moves Macclesfield into fifth with two games in hand over fourth placed Marine.

By Samual Gooch

Featured in this article:

LatestNews

REMEMBERING ARTHUR JONES

REMEMBERING ARTHUR JONES

Thirty years ago today, we woke up to the devastating news that Macclesfield Town Chairman Arthur Jones had tragically taken his own life. Arthur was an incredibly well-respected, decent man who unquestionably poured his heart and soul into our Football Club. His name...

read more
EMERGING TALENT UPDATE

EMERGING TALENT UPDATE

It has been an encouraging start for our players on our Emerging Talent Programme here at Macclesfield Football Club. The Emerging Talent Programme was established in memory of the late Ethan McLeod to celebrate the journey he went on as a player. In the early stages...

read more
FLASHBACK: MACCLESFIELD FC 3-0 ATHERTON LR

FLASHBACK: MACCLESFIELD FC 3-0 ATHERTON LR

The Silkmen’s return to the Emirates FA Cup is just a day away, and we are continuing to flashback to our previous Second Round Qualifying fixtures as Macclesfield FC. This time we are flashing back to last season's clash in the Second Round Qualifying, as the Silkmen...

read more
MATCH PREVIEW: REDCAR ATHLETIC (A)

MATCH PREVIEW: REDCAR ATHLETIC (A)

The Silkmen's Emirates FA Cup campaign begins on Saturday afternoon away at Redcar Athletic in the Second Qualifying Round, kick-off 3pm. John Rooney's men, who achieved the greatest upset in the competition's history last season when they defeated reigning holders...

read more