Macclesfield 0-2 Oldham

The Silkmen were beaten 2-0 by a strong Oldham side in their final pre-season game.

Oldhams goals came either side of half time as Michael Rickets reacted fastest to a quick free kick to score. So fast was the kick that the linesman wasn’t paying attention, and Rickets seemed well offside. But the protests of the Macc players were unheeded.

Their second, deep in the second half saw Davies lash past Tynan from 10 yards.

In between, despite the largely lacklstre performance, the Silkmen carved out most of the chances. Dunfield was unable to put the small touch needed onto a brilliant low Wiles cross and Francis Green saw a free header fly over the bar from a corner.

In the second half, Green again was unlucky when Levi Ried’s powerful shot was parried into his path. It was returned at such a pace that he did well to connect in the first place, but his volley went over.

After the second goal, Martin Gritton had chances to score, first seeing a low drive saved well by the feet of Mark Crossley, before Kevin McIntyire crossed too far in front of him, and then being unlucky to volley just wide from a quality Danny Thomas cross.

Overall the performance could have been better, but chances were created and, but for one laspe in concentration, both from the back line and the officials, the defence remained more solid than last season.

Team: Lee (Tynan 45), Regan (Edghill 60), Dimech, Swailes, McIntyre, Wiles (L Reid 60), Murray, Dunfield, Thomas, Husbands
(Gritton 60), Green.