MATCH REPORT: MARINE

3 Mar 2024

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Tunde Owolabi and John Rooney secured all three points for Macclesfield in Michael Clegg’s first game in charge.

Owolabi opened the scoring in the seventh minute when he ran into the box and slotted the ball to the right side of the goal.

Kane Drummond dribbled around multiple defenders and passed to Rooney who struck the ball beyond the keepers reach and into the bottom corner.

An incredible reaction save from debutant Joe Hilton was not enough to stop the away side from scoring in the 45th minute.

Josh Wardle’s headed effort from a corner was palmed away by Hilton at full stretch but it fell back to the Mariners skipper who fired the ball into the top left corner from close range.

In the 26th minute, two Marine players miscommunicated and headed the ball which ended up falling to the path of Neil Kengni.

The winger ran towards the goal with Owolabi beside him but decided to shoot which flew just above the bar. 

The Silkmen came close to extending their lead just before half-time when Rooney’s free kick went past a group of players in the box and fell to Owolabi at the far post.

Macclesfield’s number nine sliced at the ball close to the goal which was off target.

The away side came close to grabbing an equaliser in the sixth minute of added time from a corner.

The ball flew over a crowd of players in the box and was hit over the bar from inside the six-yard box to the relief of the home fans.

Wardle was booked in the 76th minute after he fouled Owolabi just outside the box.

Rooney struck the free kick which curled to the right of the goal but was saved by Bobby Jones who pushed the ball away at full stretch.

Laurent Mendy headed the ball just over the goal from a corner in the opening five minutes which added to the Silkmen’s early momentum.

This result moves Macclesfield into fourth only two points behind third-placed Marine with three games in hand.

By Samual Gooch

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