Ten-man Silkmen earned a point in a goalless draw against Scarborough Athletic at the Leasing.com Stadium on Tuesday night after Tom Wilson was sent off.
Captain Paul Dawson returned to John Rooney’s Silkmen side following his suspension for the visit of Scarborough in the Enterprise National League North.
Prior to kick-off, an impeccable minute’s applause was observed for loyal Silkmen supporter, Bill Milligan, who sadly passed away recently.
Scarborough threatened the Silkmen defence early on, when Rio Allan crossed into the box from the right, with Tom Wilson well-positioned to clear to safety.
Following positive build-up play, Luke Duffy flicked a header over the top for Finn Shrimpton to run onto in the box, but his low strike from close-range was saved by goalkeeper Ryan Whitley.
The Silkmen were reduced to 10 men with 18 minutes played after Wilson received a straight red card from referee Greg Rollason for a high boot on Dom Tear.
Midway through the half, Adan George’s pass set Elliott Osborne free down the right; his cross was almost met by George Wilson’s surging run into the box; however, Scarborough were able to deal with the danger and cleared.
Just beyond the half-hour mark, Ammar Dyer’s neat pull-back into the path of Wilson was charged down by Luke Hall. Minutes later, George profited from a loose ball, finding space on the left-side of the box, however Whitley was able to make himself big and thwart the cross.
Towards the end of the half, Jon Ustabasi drove at the Scarborough defence from the left before arrowing a powerful rising effort with his left-footed at goal, forcing Whitley to push the effort around the post for a corner. The final chance of the half went the way of Macc, as Whitley kept out Dyer’s fierce attempt, as the sides went into the interval level.
As play resumed, Jonathan Greening’s Seadogs had an opportunity five minutes into the second-half, as Hall teed up Luca Colville on the edge of the box, though his strike went high over Dibble’s crossbar.
At the other end, Duffy cut inside from the left edge of the box to whip in a swerving strike which was headed out by Hull.
On the hour, a swift breakaway led by Wilson saw the midfielder drive up field with possession before squaring play to Duffy, who struck low wide of Whitley’s bottom left-post.
Scarborough went close three minutes later. Hall worked the ball out to the right as he crossed into the box for Tear to flick the ball on for Mo Fadera, who turned his shot wide of Christian Dibble’s right-hand post under pressure.
George’s right-footed snapshot on the turn from Dyer’s pass was blocked out for a throw in. From the resulting throw,
On 75 minutes, a short-corner routine involving Lewis Maloney and Jack Waldron saw an enticing cross whipped into a crowded box for Will Thornton to head just over Dibble’s crossbar.
Rooney made his first substitution of the game when Danny Elliott replaced George with just under 10 minutes to play.
Late on, Duffy’s first-time header from a cross was comfortable for Whitley before Fadera struck straight at Dibble from inside the box under pressure from Sam Heathcote.
Macc survived a scare, as Dawson and Dyer had to throw themselves in the way of two efforts in quick succession.
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson then came on for Dawson in Macc’s final substitution.
Ustabasi was then kept out by Whitley’s good save in the last minute, as both teams pushed for a winner in the final stages.
In injury-time, Dibble superbly kept out Fadera’s half-volley in the box when he tipped the ball over the bar, with the resulting set-piece headed over as the game ended goalless.
The Silkmen are next in action on Saturday afternoon away at Spennymoor Town on Saturday afternoon. Purchase by clicking HERE.
Attendance: 2,301
MOTM: Ammar Dyer
Sponsored by Bollington Dental Practice
Report by Ben Reardon
