Macc 0 Port Vale 3 A view From The Moss

Port Vale, like an invading Viking horde if yesterday is anything to go by, lay waste to all who stand before them. More goalscorers with an Estate agents ring than scorched earth policy, but none the less Valiant. They came they conquered and having weathered a spirited – nay Valiant – Macc attack early doors, it was 4 wins in 4 trips and deservedly so for the visitors; The Vale look ominously slick once they click it must be said, with Maccs goal difference very much in the red.

Second in the league is the least they can aspire to, with home games against Accrington (Sat 25/9) Shrewsbury (Tue 28/9) to come. The Shrews deny them top spot by virtue of scoring one more goal with the goal difference and points totals tied.


The Line-ups for the main event in the Moss Rose theatre of the absurd were as follows


The Silkmen.
Simmo elected to select a winning and thus unchanged side for the Vale match


—————–1 Veiga——————
–2 Reid— 5 Brown– 6 Morgan– 3 Tremarco——
—-4 Bencherif —-15 Bolland— 8 Draper—–
——-9 Sinclair 23 Barnett 11 Daniel——–


The Valiants From The Vale
The visiting Valiants went 4-4-2 parading new signing Jamal Johnson on the left with Fraser and Griffith more than compensating for the loss of Roberts. Loft alas had to be content with the bench.

———-12 Tomlinson—————-
2 Yates 6 Owen 5 McCombe 15 Collins
17 Rigg 4 Griffith 10 Fraser J Johnson
——-M Richards 11 J Richards——-


But to the game fellow fans to the game


With less than Princely Valiant Roberts torn from the starting 11 the Valiants were surprised by the sharp start by The Silkmen. Sinclair hit one of those 25 yard ‘if that had gone in efforts` that cannoned off a body for a corner that virus man Nat Brown headed over.


However it did not and Richards and Richards who trade in goals as opposed to Estate Agency began to move into Town Mark hit two well wide but you knew he was merely starting to survey the estate; an imminent chain collapse would soon see a 3 point bid.

We were fortunate that Jose Vega Cape Verde crusader was there, albeit fouled by Richards, when a Tremarco back pass was so short a dwarf would have looked down on it. As it was Reid was outwitted on the other flank, Griffiths found Rigg who wriggled inside to roll the ball across the six yard box for Richards to gobble up gratefully.


Simmo won`t be happy at a soft one, but it was well crafted and we had gone toe to toe for that opening half hour. Reid and Sinclair had a bit of an understanding going down the right and the magical Daniels hit a haymaker high and wide as he ghosted round the back at a corner. Hamza had a couple of long range free kicks one going wide whilst the other went straight down Tomlinson`s throat.

Vale should have doubled the advantage either side of the interval. Collins flicked Fraser`s free kick over Veiga but back peddling for Britain, he managed to claim the ball just under the cross bar. Then the opening second half salvo saw him save a half volley rocket from Richards and hold the cannonball to boot. One day you`ll get that deserved clean sheet Jose, one day.

Richards and Richards were everywhere combining like an ‘old skool prim & proper` building society to make the process seamless. Tremarco gazumped Justin just as he was about to seal the deal. He then raced up the other end and crossed the T`s with Collins almost heading into his own net. Sinclair`s pace also carved out a chance that Barnett headed just over.

The Silkmen were refusing to lay down and die against clearly superior resources as you would expect from a Gary Simpson inspired side. We were outnumbered on the counter but Jose is the man when it comes to flying by the seat of your pants. Veiga picked Richards pocket with he and the mortgage broker clean through and all for self accessing.

Colin Daniel, with a wondrous weave, threaded a throughball of purest gold to Sinclair who stole past the keeper, yet took it wide when he should have spied Bolland. Oh the sighs around the moss when that one went begging and alas despite a double substitution (Bencherif for Chalmers and Draper for Hamshaw) the machines stopped spinning soon after
Vale undid us route one on 71 when Tomlinson thumped one that eluded every stitch and Silkman, allowing Rigg to race on and register from the angle in off the post., as all behind went into raptures. Veiga then pulled off a stunning save at point blank range from a Marc Richards bullet header.

Marc Richards however bagged his second in the street, with partner Richard squaring for him to slot home one on one. They should split the commission on that one.
There is no denying they are a good side, but then so are our lads assembled at a fraction of the cost. Fantastic performances in parts form our lads; I for one still think there are a lot more points to be had when we start playing those around us.

Whilst I for one wish their side a decent season, deservedly on this showing; they should bare our finances in mind. Whilst the people at the top of their club squabble about half a million of extra investment, we survive on a playing budget of not much more than that. Gates like today have helped to swell our average to a lofty 3019, but we still realise how much bread and butter there is on the table week in week out.

Be thankful Vale you have much to celebrate.

Macclesfield Town 0 Port Vale 3

The Moss Rose
Attendance: 3,915
Match Time: September 18, 2010, 15:00
Referee Michael Oliver


Scoring Summary
Port Vale – Marc Richards (30 & 87) Sean Rigg (71)

Macclesfield Town Port Vale
Shots (on Goal) 9(2) 12(6)
Fouls 8 13
Corner Kicks 6 5
Offsides 4 4
Time of Possession 43% 57%
Yellow Cards 2 1
Red Cards 0 0
Saves 5 2

Macclesfield Town Substitutions

Lewis Chalmers for Ross Draper (71)
Matthew Hamshaw for Emile Sinclair (71)

Port Vale Substitutions
Robert Taylor for Sean Rigg (78)
Louis Dodds for Jemal Johnson (78)
Anthony Malbon for Marc Richards (90)

Macclesfield Town Yellow Cards
Ross Draper (33)
Tyrone Barnett (77)

Port Vale Yellow Cards

Sean Rigg (77)