The Silkmen secured back-to-back victories with a 1-0 win over Leamington in the Enterprise National League North on Tuesday evening.
Three changes were made from the side that put Curzon Ashton to the sword on Saturday with Luis Lacey, Luke Duffy and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts taking the places of Brandon Lee, Danny Whitehead and D’Mani Mellor.
The Silkmen started brightly with a flurry of chances inside the first five minutes, courtesy of Saturday’s MOTM Justin Johnson, Captain Paul Dawson and top scorer Danny Elliott, forcing Leamington almost immediately on to the back foot.
Macc continued to press as the first half developed with Isaac Buckley-Ricketts and James Edmondson also coming close to opening our account, though Rogan Ravenhill was on hand to keep the score level for the time being.
With a first goal appearing imminent for the majority of the opening stages, Danny Elliott eventually gave the Silkmen the lead after thirty five minutes, picking up a loose ball mid way inside the Leamington half before driving at the heart of the defence, with options to his left and right, but went alone and fired beyond Ravenhill in to the far bottom corner.
With the half almost up, Sam Heathcote speculatively tried his luck from range, though didn’t trouble Ravenhill on this occasion. Three minutes were added before referee Charles King blew the whistle for half time, with the Silkmen comfortably in the driving seat.
Justin Johnson almost instantly doubled Macc’s lead after the restart, though fired just wide of the upright, which proved to be a taste of things to come. Isaac Buckley-Ricketts was next to pose a major threat as he busted a gut to try and connect with Johnson’s low cross, but couldn’t quite make the vital connection at the back post.
Sam Heathcote came up from the back to attack an inviting corner, which he rose highest to meet, only to see his powerful downward header cleared off the line. Luke Duffy was the next to have an element of success from a corner, meeting Luis Lacey’s inswinging corner, before skilfully flicking towards goal, forcing an acrobatic reaction save from Ravenhill.
Troubling Leamington all evening from set pieces, especially via James Edmondson and Luis Lacey corners, who were both able to pick out a man on almost every occasion, though those battling to meet the deliveries weren’t able to provide an end product, as was the case when Paul Dawson and Rollin Menayese each made the first connection at two corners in quick succession, both of whom were denied on the line.
It wasn’t just set pieces that Macc were lively from as direct attempts on goal from range also troubled Ravenhill, notably so when he spilled Paul Dawson’s low drive in to the path of Danny Elliott, who couldn’t quite convert the rebound under pressure. Not long after, a deep cross from the left fell nicely for Lewis Fensome at the back post, whose downward half volley skimmed the far post as it fizzed across the face of goal.
Johnson again was the danger man bearing down on the Brakes’ defence as the one way traffic continued throughout the second half, twisting and turning, before opening up his body and turning the ball cleverly back towards the near post, again forcing a wrong-footed Ravenhill in to a smart stop.
D’Mani Mellor was the Silkmen’s first substitute to enter the fold as he replaced Johnson with just less than fifteen minutes to play. Brandon Lee was introduced shortly after, taking Luke Duffy’s place for the closing stages.
Isaac Buckley-Ricketts’ explosive pace caused the defence problem’s throughout the night, as he threw himself towards a low cross from James Edmondson, but couldn’t quite reach the pacy ball across the face of goal, before an impressive block from Demico Burton denied him from extending Macc’s lead with just a minute to play.
Five minutes were added at the end of regulation time, as Macc continued to press for a second goal to seal the deal. Danny Whitehead was the final change for the Silkmen, with Isaac Buckley-Ricketts making way with less than 60 seconds of additional time remaining.
It was Danny Elliott who came closest of all to that evasive second goal with the last kick of the game, from which a goalmouth scramble ensued as the striker attempted to force the ball over the line, though Leamington were able to clear their lines.
It would make no difference the end result though as the Silkmen secured all three points and back to back victories in the Enterprise National League North. South Shields are Macc’s next opponents and visitors to the Leasing.com Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Tickets are on sale HERE
