Accrington 2-0 Macclesfield

Another 20 minutes of madness cost the Silkmen dearly at Accrington.

The first half saw the League debut of vast defender Clayton Mcdonald, and he immediately impressed by winning the ball in the air repeatedly.

But unfortunately he took a knock warly on and never looked comfortable until his substitution in the second half. Despite this he had the Silkmen’s best first half chances, first heading a corner powerfully just over the bar, then meeting a second flag kick with a boot, and again steering it too high.

Neither side managed to really stamp authority on the gae in the opening 45, but the Silkmen had shot themsevles squarely in the foot by 15 minutes into the second half.

Five minutes in, and Mullin was on the scoresheet, volleying home neatly from a corner.

But this goal signalled a collapse from the Silkmen who preoceeded to make an incredibly average Accrington side look closer to AC Milan and Accrington Stanley.

The second goal was only a matter of time, and came from a set piece when the bal lwas played out to Ryan who fired home from just outside the area. the Macc players raced after the referee claiming offside. As the ball passed straight through the legs of TWO Accrington players, at least one of which appeared to be offside, it seems they had a case, but as ever, it fell on deaf ears.

Macc did then wake up and got back into the game. Gritton had a good chance when Thomas found him in acres of space, but he snatched at his shot when clean through and blazed over, and Thomas again created the chance soon after, but this time Evans was denied by a smart save.

Francis Green was then denied as the Accrington ‘keeper collided with his own defender and lost the ball. Green was fouled as he tried to get to the loose ball for a tap in, but the referee deemed it a foul on the ‘keeper and the home side had a free kick.