A youthful Silkmen side stormed to a 4-1 victory against Congleton Town in the Cheshire Senior Cup on Tuesday evening at the Leasing.com Stadium.
Wholesale changes were made to the Silkmen side by Manager John Rooney. Senior starters included debutant Shea Callister, Brandon Lee, Carlos Dos Santos, Regan Griffiths, Ethan McLeod, Luke Duffy and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts whilst youngsters Aaron Grewal, Jayden Kirk and Cameron Bradbury-Allen were also included from the off.
A dominant start was made to the evening by the Silkmen, which saw Congleton immediately forced on to the back foot, as Ethan McLeod and Max Woltman, leading the line for Macc, began probing for an opener inside the first few minutes.
Woltman forced Barton in to a smart stop after ten minutes, as alarm bells began to ring for the Congleton backline.
It was just six minutes later when Macc made their pressure count, as Luke Duffy smashed home an initial effort parried in to his path by Barton at the back post.
Despite the Silkmen’s early authority, Town levelled almost unexpectedly, as Ethan Hartshorn bundled the ball over the line from close range having collided with the onrushing Callister attempting to claim the cross.
Macclesfield weren’t disheartened by the equaliser though and picked up where they left off prior to conceding, immediately piling the pressure back on the Congleton defence as the half drew to a close.
With an undeniable underlying needle between the local rivals, tempers flared briefly in one of the final flash points before the interval, as Brandon Lee reacted to a shove in the back as he shielded the ball back to Shea Callister, though referee Richard Woodward was quick to diffuse the danger.
Aaron Grewal had one last effort on goal before the whistle blew for half time, though Barton was comfortable watching the powerful attempt fly past his upright.
John Rooney made two changes to his side at half time as he handed opportunities to two more youngsters from the bench, Harry Motley and Sam Elliott, who took the places of senior Silkmen Brandon Lee and Luke Duffy.
Macc made an even more impressive start to the second half than the first, retaking the lead inside just four minutes through Max Woltman, making his first start and scoring his first goal, providing a composed finish, slotted beyond Barton from the edge of the area.
Tempers flared once more a few moments later which saw Ethan McLeod and Carlos Dos Santos both added to the referee’s book for their respective reactions to being antagonised off the ball.
The Silkmen let the ball do the talking though as Harry Motley smashed home a cut-back from Isaac Buckley-Ricketts to grab his first senior goal for the Club just eighteen minutes after being introduced.
Ethan McLeod almost added a fourth just moments later as Macc began to run away with the tie, though was denied by the outstretched hand of Barton.
Jamie Walker took the place of Aaron Grewal on 66 minutes as again, further fresh legs were added to the Silkmen side, which very nearly paid off as Walker was well denied by the feet of Barton just five minutes later.
Another two youngsters were given their baptism of fire as Fin Foote and Rhys Yates took the place of senior players Regan Griffiths and Ethan McLeod fifteen minutes before the end.
Congleton skipper Darren Chadwick was dismissed five minutes from time after a second bookable offence, allowing Rhys Yates to seal the deal in the first of four minutes of stoppage time, firing emphatically beyond Barton, in off the underside of the bar, scoring his first goal for the Silkmen.
Macclesfield FC now progress to the Third Round of the Cheshire Senior Cup. Our opponents will be learned in the next few weeks whilst the tie will take place early in the new year.
The Silkmen return to Enterprise National League North action on Saturday as they travel to Norfolk to take on Kings Lynn Town at the Walks Stadium. Tickets are available HERE
Attendance: 742
MOTM: Max Woltman
