The Silkmen progressed to the Semi-Finals of the Enterprise National League North play-offs on Wednesday evening with a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Chester at the Leasing.com Stadium
John Rooney made wholesale changes to the starting XI that began Saturday’s final game of the regular season as the team reverted to a familiar, full strength lineup. Luis Lacey was the only man to appear from the off in both games.
It was the hosts who started the brighter with early chances for Luke Matheson and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson off the back of a long throw from the former, both of which were well blocked by the Chester defence.
Luke Duffy found a way to unlock the Chester defence early on too with some neat footwork before letting fly with a low drive which was well stopped by the outstretched boot of goalkeeper Bobby Jones.
Not long after, Josh Kay brought the ball down on a sixpence inside the area before tucking the ball away in to the far corner, though was disappointed by the referee’s whistle, halting play for offside.
Elliot Osborne’s floated delivery moments later was met by the rising head of Heathcote at the back post, laying off for Buckley-Ricketts whose less than sweet connection was deflected in to the arms of Jones.
Edmondson then had his turn to almost give Macc the lead just after ten minutes had been played, rising highest to meet Buckley-Ricketts’ cross but glancing just wide of the far post.
Rogan Ravenhill was called in to action for the first of two occasions in quick succession on the 15 minute mark, heading clear a ball over the top before getting an important hand to a low out-swung cross from the left.
After a rapid start to proceedings, the tempo eventually settled with both sides entering their respective rhythms from the 20th minute mark onwards.
Chester lost starting striker Fin Shrimpton after just half an hour through injury, with Tom Peers taking his place at the top end of the field.
The substitution took effect not long after as the visitors took the lead through Connor Woods, linking up with Peers before firing low and hard beyond Ravenhill in to the far bottom corner after 36 minutes.
Luke Duffy almost pulled the Silkmen level less than four minutes later as he met Luis Lacey’s driven cross at the back post cleanly, though Jones was equal to his volleyed attempt.
Three minutes were added at the end of the first half with advantage to Chester as we approached the interval, remaining the case until the referee’s whistle brought a temporary halt to proceedings, with only Sam Heathcote receiving a booking prior to which for wrestling his opposite man in the build up to a Macc corner on the brink of the break.
With the second half back underway, it was the Silkmen applying the pressure and putting the visitors under the cosh as they looked to rid them of their narrow advantage.
Buckley-Ricketts almost did so spectacularly moments after the restart, bending a curling effort narrowly wide of the far top corner having bought himself half a yard upon cutting inside from the left flank. Luis Lacey then directed a well-hit cross towards the near post for those in blue to attack, though could only find the side netting from a tight angle.
Another of Luke Duffy’s effective in-swung corners almost crept in at the near post minutes later, helped on by an awaiting Elliot Osborne, though cannoned back off the woodwork and behind for another corner eventually dealt with by the visitors.
The Silkmen’s determination to pull level came to fruition just after the hour mark as Josh Kay swept home a low Luke Duffy cross to emphatically level proceedings with all to play for in the remaining twenty five minutes.
With the momentum going in to the closing stages, it was all Macc from that point onwards, with Kay laying off for Edmondson, who volleyed goal-wards but saw his effort well held by Jones.
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson unexpectedly tried his luck from range, which dipped and dived in a unique fashion on to the crossbar and back in to the path of Edmondson, who couldn’t keep the rebound down.
Sam Heathcote’s night was brought to a premature end as he struggled to continue play through the pain barrier, forcing him to be replaced by Rollin Menayese with six minutes to play.
Eight minutes were added at the end of regulation time with extra time and penalties looming.
Just a minute in to the stoppage time, the woodwork was struck from range once again via Paul Dawson’s incredible effort from outside the area which again dipped ever so slightly too late, skimming the crossbar on its way on to the roof of the net.
Luke Matheson made a vital block from Chester sub Fin Roberts, whose effort deflected comfortably in to the arms of Ravenhill midway through the additional time.
Roberts then blazed over from a tight angle under the watchful eye of Matheson, who ensured there was no reasonable angle for the winger to let fly from.
With the game seemingly going the distance with half an hour extra to play just seconds away, it was in the final minute of additional time that the Silkmen secured their place in the semi-final of the play-offs, from a Luke Duffy strike, viciously hit from just beyond the corner flag, which snuck in at the near post, sending the Leasing.com Stadium in to absolute delirium.
James Gale and Lewis Fensome replaced Josh Kay and Luis Lacey for the final seconds of a dramatic evening under the lights before the referee’s whistle not long after indicated the end of proceedings, confirming it would be Macc who travel to Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday afternoon.
Attendance: 3,548
MOTM: Josh Kay
