The Silkmen made an emotional return to action at a packed out Leasing.com Stadium on Boxing Day, for the first time since the tragic passing of Ethan McLeod. Touching tributes were made prior to kick off, before both sides’ focus turned to each other.
John Rooney made just one enforced change to his starting eleven from those that played on that terribly fateful evening at the Eyrie against Bedford Town, with Danny Whitehead replacing the suspended Josh Kay, whilst youngster Cameron Bradbury-Allen was called up to the side due to the irreplaceable void left by Ethan McLeod.
It was a relatively slow start to proceedings as neither team understandably up to speed following a moving start to the afternoon, though Macclesfield believed they’d taken the lead just ten minutes in via a D’Mani Mellor header, only to be denied by the linesman’s flag for offside. Buxton returned fire just a couple of minutes later, though weren’t able to make a dent in the scoreline inside the opening fifteen minutes.
Both sides were able to create half chances for themselves, but not enough to really test Max Dearnley, nor Joe Young between each set of posts.
The visitors arguably had the best chance of a largely uneventful first half as a deep and dangerous cross was delivered from the right flank in to the corridor of uncertainty, though the Silkmen were on hand to ensure the threat was quickly dissolved as they shielded the ball out of play for a goal kick.
Unchanged at the break, the local rivals were each eager to gain an early advantage after the restart. Danny Elliott nearly had the ball in the net once more two minutes into the second half, though poked just wide of the mark.
Four minutes later, Buxton winger Johnny Johnston broke free of the Macc defence from the left flank, bearing down on goal before prodding beyond Dearnley to open the scoring on 51 minutes, only making matters worse for an already downbeat Silkmen side.
Luke Duffy’s penalty appeals were waved away at the other end, despite mass appeals for an apparent trip inside the area, though nothing given by Bell, nor his assistants.
Rollin Menayese looked to level proceedings with an equally imposing dart in to the area from the back line to meet Luis Lacey’s deep cross, though couldn’t quite direct his headed attempt on target.
Danny Whitehead was first to make way for the Silkmen twenty minutes before the end, he was replaced by Max Woltman as the Silkmen looked to pull level, if not turn the game on its head.
It was Buxton however, who were able to capitalise on a frustrated Macc outfit, doubling their lead through towering centre halve George Ward, who rose highest to meet a corner and head home with fifteen to play.
Two further changes were made to the Silkmen side following Buxton’s second with Luke Matheson and Sam Heathcote entering the fray in place of Lewis Fensome and Luke Duffy.
Danny Elliott came closest to getting Macc back in to the game with ten minutes to go, charging determinedly towards the area before unleashing a wonderstrike which forced Young in to a quite brilliant save to his left, tipping over the effort which would’ve undoubtedly found the top corner and tip the momentum in Macc’s favour.
Buxton almost extended their lead to three with two minutes left of regulation time, hitting the woodwork via looping volley, forcing Luke Matheson to scramble clear the rebound.
Macclesfield had further hopes of a late comeback dashed once more as a handball saw the Silkmen thrown a lifeline, but Danny Elliott’s spot-kick was saved by Joe Young deep into stoppage time, keeping his clean sheet and securing the bragging rights for the visitors on a difficult afternoon for all associated with Macclesfield.
Attendance: 4,265
MOTM: Ethan McLeod – RIP
