The Silkmen secured their third successive victory in the Enterprise National League North against Leamington at the Leasing.com Stadium on Tuesday night with a 3-1 victory over Leamington FC, the goals courtesy of Paul Dawson and James Gale!
John Rooney named an unchanged side from the 5-1 win at home to Kidderminster Harriers one week prior.
It was a sluggish start from the Silkmen who despite the momentum of back-to-back wins, took their time to grow in to the game with visitors Leamington keen to take advantage of the opportunity to catch Macc napping, as Max Brogan nodded an early header just wide of Max Dearnley’s far post inside four minutes.
Having been relatively slow out of the blocks, Luke Matheson and D’Mani Mellor each picked up an early booking as they looked to respond to Leamington’s superior start, for an unfair challenge and an alleged dive respectively.
Attempts were then exchanged at either end with Rogan Ravenhill and Max Dearnley each called in to action before the twenty minute mark to prevent James Edmondson and Max Brogan respectively.
The Silkmen soon looked to reassert their authority on home turf as Luke Duffy glanced a header just wide of the upright before Max Dearnley was forced to back-pedal and prevent Owen Farmer from the visitors taking the lead midway through the half.
Sam Heathcote was next to be booked for Macc as he attempted to cover his tracks from a misjudged clearance with a handball, which was spotted and punished by referee Ben Wyatt.
Frank Tattum and Paul Dawson each squandered half-chances as the half drew to a close before Max Brogan fashioned an opportunity from nowhere as he picked up the ball on the half way line before spotting Dearnley off his line and sending a well-weighted ball sailing over his head and in to the back of the net to give the Brakes the lead just before the break.
Two minutes were added before action was taken at the interval as Luke Matheson and Sam Heathcote were replaced by Lewis Fensome and James Gale.
With Ravenhill keen to slow the inevitable Silkmen onslaught after the restart, the Leamington keeper was booked for his time wasting antics, which had reoccured throughout the first 45 and was eventually disciplined by Wyatt & co.
Luke Duffy had Macc’s best chance since the half way mark, as his low drive was cleared off the line before Captain Paul Dawson levelled on the hour mark, heading home substitute James Gale’s flick back across goal as the visitors failed to clear their lines from a dangerous Luke Duffy corner.
The turnaround was completed just seven minutes later as Gale, lively since his introduction having already provided an assist, worked industriously to win the ball back before linking up well with fellow front man D’Mani Mellor who laid back off for Gale to finish off the neat, free flowing counter attacking, slamming beyond Ravenhill at the near post.
Josh Kay and Dan Meredith each tried their luck in the aftermath of Macc’s second though weren’t able to make a change to the scoreline as we entered the latter stages of the game.
Luke Duffy fired just wide with two minutes to play as the Silkmen looked to double their lead and ensure three points would be theirs, which they managed to do so as the regulation 90 minutes ticked over in to injury time, as the effective Gale capitalised on a mix-up between Archie Crowther and Rogan Ravenhill as he intercepted a short pass-back from the former before rounding the latter and slotting home his second and Macc’s third.
Three changes were made by John Rooney in stoppage time as Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, Luis Lacey and Mikey Stone replaced Josh Kay, Kacper Pasiek and Luke Duffy respectively as the Leasing.com Stadium awaited the final whistle, eventually blown by Wyatt to confirm a third successive victory for the Silkmen and shift them up to 6th in the Enterprise National League North.
Macclesfield now prepare to host Premier League royalty, Brentford FC, on Monday 16th February in the Fourth Round of the Emirates FA Cup, when the impossible could just be made possible once again.
Attendance: 2,613 (29)
MOTM: Paul Dawson
