The Silkmen embarked on their pre-season programme with a spirited 2 – 0 victory against a Blackburn Rovers XI side on Saturday afternoon, with two second half strikes proving decisive.
The opening exchanges saw Blackburn enjoy the bulk of possession and it was the visitors who created the first real chance in the ninth minute.
Dominik Biniek unleashed Zach Stirich with an innovative through ball, yet the young striker was thwarted by an advancing Tom Scott who spread himself well to block a venomous low drive at his near post
That apart, Macc exhibited a defensive resolve which would have pleased the new Management Team – limiting the Championship side to largely speculative efforts for much of the contest.
After settling into their new 3 – 4 – 2 – 1 formation, Macc began to grow into the game and created their first opening in the 21st minute when Elliott Whitehouse’s rasping twenty-yard effort was smartly tipped around the far post by Jack Barrett.
Displaying encouraging levels of desire and work-rate off the ball in particular, Robbie Savage’s side visibly moved through the gears in pursuit of the opening goal.
This almost came in the 28th minute when Whitehouse showed some nimble footwork to create space on the edge of the area – yet he could only fire his subsequent effort over Barrett’s crossbar.
Justin Johnson and Neil Kengni proved to be a constant threat on each flank, with the Blackburn backline struggling to deal with their power and pace on a number of occasions.
Despite this, it was the visitors who created the next opening when Jalil Saadi seized on a loose ball thirty-yards from goal – yet his low drive was deflected to safety by the outstretched leg of skipper Paul Dawson.
The final chance of the half also fell the way of the visitors.
With seconds remaining, Nathan Willis released Lewis Bell down the right and his teasing cross found Joe Boggan at the back post.
For a split second, the net was undeniably set to bulge but ultimately, the striker could do no more than direct his attempt well wide of Scott’s goal.
The opening exchanges of the second period saw a revitalised Silkmen side lay siege on the Blackburn goal, as they sought to break the deadlock at the earliest opportunity.
The introduction of Danny Elliott was a pivotal factor in magnifying our attacking threat and just two minutes after the restart, he was played clean through by John Rooney – only to be denied by the feet of Barrett.
Sixty seconds later, Rooney and Elliott combined once again – but this time the advancing Barrett was quick off his line to diffuse the danger.
Wave after wave of Silkmen pressure was then repelled by the visitors and this was only matched by the biblical levels of precipitation that fell on a largely unsuspecting Leasing.com Stadium crowd.
Luke Duffy, Kielen Adams and Paul Dawson all tested the Rovers ‘keeper, yet each were to be denied in what was proving to by an increasingly one-sided affair.
With John Rooney orchestrating the Silkmen midfield, Robbie Savage’s side were clearly going about their business with freedom and creativity.
This was to pay dividends in the 64th minute when Rooney’s audacious exchange with Neil Kengni saw the latter storm into the penalty area – only to be brought down by a shellshocked Rovers defender.
Referee Justin Walton had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, with John Rooney confidently despatching the resultant penalty to give Macc a deserved lead.
Understandably, falling behind catalysed the visitors into a renewed period of offensive commitment.
In the 76th minute, it seemed as though Macc’s defensive line had finally been breached when Daniel Shaw was given the freedom of the Leasing.com Stadium in front of goal.
The Silkmen faithful would have been forgiven for looking away in unwavering expectation of parity being restored – yet those who could bare to watch were rewarded when Max Dearnley superbly parried Shaw’s point blank effort onto the top of the crossbar and out to safety.
The game was settled in injury time, as a mesmerising Silkmen move concluded when Rooney’s tantalising low cross into the six-yard box was tapped home by a trialist.
All in all, it proved to be a very worthwhile test for Robbie Savage’s side as their attention now turns to welcoming Stalybridge Celtic to the Leasing.com Stadium on Tuesday evening.
