Manager John Rooney hailed a “proper performance” as his Silkmen side went top of the Enterprise National League North with a 3-0 victory over Hebburn Town at the Leasing.com Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday.
It was a weekend to remember for the Silkmen, who followed up Saturday’s 2-1 win away at Darlington with three points against Hebburn in East Cheshire in front of a crowd of 2,731.
Adan George’s double, his first goals in Macc colours, put the Silkmen in command before Danny Elliott’s stunning half-volley in second-half added time rounded off the perfect Bank Holiday weekend double-header, with Rooney’s men now at the summit of the sixth-tier following an unbeaten start to the season.
Reflecting on the result, Rooney told Silkmen TV:
“We always knew it was going to be a difficult day with the games back-to-back over the Bank Holiday weekend. To take maximum points from it is always pleasing. To score three goals, for Adan to get off the mark for us, and Danny Elliott to come on and score again, it’s always pleasing seeing your strikers find the back of the net. Every one of them to a man, the way they defended, including Tom Wilson playing with a gash on his face from Saturday’s game.
“It was a proper performance. We can still get better, but a lot of new players are still gelling together, and the start we have made has been incredible, and as I said to the players, we need to keep rolling into game-by-game like we did last year, but don’t take our eyes off it and keep turning out results. I thought the way they grafted for each other, they’ve done everything we asked of them and they got the rewards by getting three points and three goals.
“I thought we defended really well. Hebburn are no pushovers, they have come into the league above and have great momentum from last season after getting promoted, the manager has done a brilliant job so it was one of those games to not let them come here with their momentum and take points off us, that was the key message to the lads, forget Saturday, we’re ready to go again, and they went out and showed me that. We are still gelling and the lads are starting to understand how people play and their strengths. We added more energy late on in the game by putting young Matty Apter on, Danny Elliott came off the bench and got on the scoresheet, Hassan (Ayub) did really well when he came on so it shows we can get bodies on. It’s pleasing for me and a massive headache but it’s a good headache to have.”
Rooney was delighted for his centre forwards, with George scoring his first goals for the Silkmen and Elliott continuing his prolific form by netting his third goal in two games. He added:
“We’ve always said, once he (George) gets his first, the next ones will come flying in. We’re delighted for him as he’s had some chances and not quite put them away, as it’s hard to come into the Club as a new striker, he saw Danny score two on Saturday.
“Danny has played a lot of minutes for where he is right now. He is way ahead of schedule from where he should be, it shows how professional he is and that he has recovered right, and to be out that short time with an ACL injury in the shape he’s in, he’s hitting the back of the net now for us as we’d expect him to as he’s a natural goalscorer, so it’s pleasing. We’ve still got bodies to come back, we’ve got Paul Dawson and Josh Kay to come back, Luke Matheson was back on the bench, so fingers crossed we keep this momentum and keep rolling into each game as it comes.”
Attention now turns to next Saturday’s trip to South Wales where Merthyr Town await, and Rooney is ready for the fixture at Penydarren Park. Rooney continued:
“It will be a long journey down to Merthyr, but it’s one we will be fully prepared for, we’ll have a couple of sessions before that game, that’s the next game and the biggest game of the season.”
Rooney praised the “outstanding” Silkmen support, who backed the lads and played their important part from the stands. He concluded:
“The fans were outstanding again. There’s no better feeling than playing at home and getting the three points.”
