Goals from Tre Pemberton and Danny Elliott handed The Silkmen their second pre-season victory last night, in what proved to be an entertaining clash against a spirited Stalybridge Celtic side.
Macc started the brighter and could well have opened the scoring within the first minute. Danny Elliott’s jinxing run down the left ended when he delivered a deep cross to the back post and with ‘keeper Charlie Monks stranded in no man’s land Tre Pemberton looked certain to nod the ball home until Kyle Brownhill launched a last-gasp interception to deny him.
Less than sixty seconds later, the deadlock was broken however.
The visitors took the lead with their first foray into the Macc half when Connor Hughes found himself in acres of space in front of goal and he calmly slotted the ball past Max Dearnley to silence the home contingent.
To their credit, Macc sought to restore parity instantly with Danny Elliott warming Monks’ palms with a rasping half-volley from the edge of the area just after the restart.
Skipper Laurent Mendy then forced the Stalybridge ‘keeper into action once again in the 5th minute, surging through the midfield before unleashing a venomous drive which Monks just about managed to turn around the far post.
After weathering the initial Silkmen storm, Stalybridge grew in confidence and began to spray the ball around the Leasing.com surface with creativity and conviction.
Yet, if one thing can be said for certain about Robbie Savage’s side already it is that they are fighters and this was exemplified perfectly with reference to the equalising goal that came in the 10th minute.
Macc’s frontline made light work of chasing down the visiting defence and after forcing an error, the ball broke to Pemberton who rifled home an unstoppable drive from six-yards out.
Two minutes later and it could have got even better for the home side, as Pemberton surged down the right before pulling the ball back to Danny Whitehead who could only direct in powerful effort over Monks’ bar.
Pemberton proved to be the danger man once again in the 15th minute – finding Lewis Fensome at the end of another mesmerising run, yet the former Lancaster City man could only fire straight at Monks on the turn.
Elliott Whitehouse then headed wide from a John Rooney corner in the 20th minute and this signalled the end of what seemed to be an avalanche of goalmouth action within the opening exchanges.
Despite the fact that both sides retained their commitment to open, attacking play, chances became somewhat at a premium as the contest became dominated by the respective defences.
This baron spell ended in the 41st minute when Rooney broke free down the left – his subsequent cross was expertly controlled by Elliott, before he launched a ferocious volley that flew marginally over Monks’ crossbar.
Elliott then had the Silkmen faithful on the edge of their seats once again two minutes later, as he surged through the Stalybridge defence before rifling a low drive across the face of goal and agonisingly wide of the far post.
The visitors came out for the second period in defiant mood and this was exemplified by Joe Edwards’ tenacious run through the Macc ranks in the 46th minute – yet after bearing down on goal, he could only fire over the near upright.
After surviving this, Robbie Savage’s side began to stamp their authority on the game and in the 48th minute Neil Kengni saw his low drive blocked by Kyle Brownhill – the ball rebounded to Lewis Fensome who then saw his shot fly inches wide of the far post.
Four minutes later, Kengni proved to be our main offensive threat yet again – as following a devastating run down the right, his pinpoint cross was volleyed straight at Monks by Luke Duffy.
Paul Dawson and John Rooney then forced Monks into a succession of fine saves, before both sides had vehement penalty appeals waved away by Referee Joel Buckle.
The game was settled in the 79th minute when Kengni embarked on another compelling run down the right before pulling the ball back to Elliott, who made no mistake in firing the ball home from close-range.
Stalybridge did threaten to claim a share of the spoils in the dying stages, with Edwards desperately unlucky not to connect with Jack Irlam’s teasing ball across the six-yard line in what proved to be the last chance of the game.
