The Silkmen bounced back from defeat at Peterborough Sports on Tuesday with a 2-1 victory over Bedford Town at the Leasing.com Stadium on Saturday afternoon!
Four changes were made to the side from Tuesday with Luke Matheson and Paul Dawson returning to the starting XI, whilst James Gale and Kacper Pasiek each made their home debuts since joining the Club in the last fortnight.
It was a lightning start from Macc, as inside four minutes Luke Matheson’s dangerous low ball in to the box was met by Josh Kay at the back post, who smashed home the opener, a day after his birthday!
Max Dearnley was alert to the response from Bedford as a ball in from the right reached Tyrone Marsh, whose tame effort whilst under pressure from Luke Matheson was comfortable for the Silkmen shot-stopper.
The opening goalscorer Josh Kay was harshly booked on the 11th minute mark for a push in the back, leaving him walking on eggshells for the remainder of the contest.
A lengthy stoppage followed as Bedford’s Ryan Blackman received treatment for a bang to the head, forcing him to be replaced due to concussion protocols by Josh Castiglione after just 16 minutes,
The Silkmen very nearly added a second after play resumed as another wicked low ball in from Luke Matheson was latched on to by D’Mani Mellor at the near post, who prodded just wide from close range.
Bedford captain Marsh’s well-struck free kick was the next flash point, calling Dearnley in to action once more, but was able to hold on to the dipping effort.
In a touching tribute to Ethan McLeod, a ripple of applause started by the Bedford away support spread round the Leasing.com Stadium on the 20 minute mark in a lovely moment of respect.
Although the Silkmen had looked relatively comfortable despite only holding a one goal lead, advantage was taken by Jevani Brown of a loose ball not dealt with by Dearnley under pressure from the Bedford front man, who was able to convert with ease from the edge of the area on 34 minutes.
The Silkmen were able to restore their lead though on the brink of the break as debutant Kacper Pasiek charged forward from his full back position, initially looking to pull back for James Gale, but when the ball falling back to him, he unleashed a well-struck low drive which beat Rohan Luthra all ends up, and found the far bottom corner! A perfect time to score as the Silkmen headed in to the break a goal to the good.
Macc thought they’d doubled their lead just five minutes after the interval as Sam Heathcote’s header looked to have enough on it to find it’s way in was cleared off the line at the vital moment.
Max Dearnley was then booked for his involvement in defence of a firm but fair challenge made by Paul Dawson. The Skipper had already booked for dissent at the end of the first half, from which Bedford appealed heavily for Dawson’s marching orders, fortunately not enforced with half an hour to play.
Two Silkmen changes were made in the 68th minute as Lewis Fensome and Carlos Dos Santos replaced Luke Matheson and James Gale before two chances fell the way of D’Mani Mellor in quick succession, who had the opportunity to pull the trigger on both occasions, instead opting for more time to set but wasn’t allowed another moment’s peace as Bedford managed to clear from each opportunity.
A further two changes were made to the Silkmen side with ten minutes to play as Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts replaced opening goalscorer Josh Kay and Luke Duffy, forced off with cramp.
Debutant Kacper Pasiek almost added a second for him and a third for Macc with five minutes remaining, connecting well with another deep cross from the right, but his half-volley was instead deflected behind for a corner, eventually dealt with by the Eagles.
Six minutes were added at the end of the regulation 90, deep in to which Danny Whitehead replaced James Edmondson amidst Macc running the clock down to hold on to their lead until the final whistle and secure a vital victory, putting them within touching distance of the playoff places in the Enterprise National League North.
MOTM: Josh Kay
Attendance: 3,506 (86)
