The Silkmen’s youngsters fell short in the Cheshire Senior Cup as they were defeated 3-1 by a strong Stalybridge Celtic side.
Macc were represented by a number of players from our EM20 Emerging Talent Programme as well as players from our BTEC and Junior Academy.
It was a strong start by the Silkmen as they came close within the opening ten minutes as Rhys Yates countered down the right before dinking a cross onto the head of the in-form Barney Wiggin, who flicked his header wide.
After a strong start by the Silkmen, the hosts were building into the game and found the Silkmen skipper for the night, Paul Cooper, a thorn in their side.
The Macc shot-stopper made two excellent low saves to deny Jack Irlam from opening the scoring.
Cooper couldn’t keep Stalybridge out for much longer, as Declan McLoughlin fired a powerful shot from inside the area which gave the hosts the lead.
The Silkmen’s number 13, would again be called into action once again, denying Irlam with a smart low stop with his legs.
Macc were withstanding a lot of pressure at one end, but managed to find an equaliser just before the half hour mark.
Yates and Wiggin combined once again, before the latter snuck across his man at the near post and bundled the ball home past Charlie Monks.
Stalybridge were forced into a change as Joel Sutton replaced Harvey Brookes at left-back, and the substitute was firmly in the action straight from his introduction.
As half time approached, Sutton managed to cut in on his right foot before bending an effort which was superbly tipped over the bar by Cooper.
Unfortunately for Macc, they would not go into the break level as Stalybridge were awarded a penalty as Irlam was tripped inside the area.
The Celtic forward stepped up for the resulting spot-kick and found the bottom left hand corner to send the hosts into the break infront.
It was a disciplined start to the second half for the young Silkmen, as they managed to withstand the threat that came their way.
Cooper was once again in the action as he narrowed the angle on Sutton and made a great low stop to deny the full-back.
The Silkmen’s best chance came from Zach Abbott as he dispossessed the hosts on halfway before driving towards goal and curling an effort just past the right hand upright.
Veteran defender Liam Tongue was the next to test Cooper but the Silkmen shot stopper made arguably his best save of the night to turn the defender’s 30 yard drive wide of goal.
As the Silkmen looked to equalise late on, they were caught on the counter as two Stalybridge substitutes combined as Tunde Bayode laid a cross on a plate for Rohan Butler who couldn’t miss from eight yards out.
It was a fantastic experience for what was such a young Silkmen side, one that they will learn from and take on board in the early stages of their footballing career.
Macclesfield (3-5-2): Cooper, Ramwell (Walker 59′), Worsley, Anderton, Smethurst, Abbott, Loureiro (Hawtin 69′), Bull, Foote (Hollands 90+1′), Yates (Grewal 77′), Wiggin (McGowan 79′)
Yellow Cards: Hawtin 76′
Attendance: 448
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