Macclesfield 1-1 Bury

Martin Gritton’s goal gives the Silkmen a point against Bury, but it should have been all three.

The Silkmen could have scored after two minutes when Simon Yeo shot wide after getting the ball clear in the penalty are, but they didn’t have long to wait.

Shortly afterwards, it was Yeo creating the chance as his flicked header came back off the bar, and Martin Gritton reacted quickest to nod home.

But the lead didn’t last and Dawson finished a sweping counter-attacking move just two minutes later.

Macc were asking questions of the referee in the first half as both Scott and Flynn were booked after Flynn was shoved into the back of the net at a corner. Scott later bodychecked Danny Thomas to prevent the winger breaking dangerously, but was not given a second yellow.



The Silkmen were the better side throughout the game and just before half time Bury ‘keeper Brown made an excellent one-handed stop to deny Terry Dunfield before Simon Ywo missed a good chance in the first minutes of the second half.

Again the referee ws questioned when Terry Dunfield was clearly fouled when he was clear in the area, but neither the penalty or subsequent red card was given.

Macc continued to press with the visitors hoping to hang in and score on the break, and it was one of these breaks that saw Flynn sent off. Despite pulling out of the challenge, he made contact with a Bury player in an echo of Scott’s foul on Thomas, but this time there was no leniency and Flynn was sent for an early bath.

The Silkmen remained the better side with 10 men but eventually had Brain to thank for a good save to deny Bury what would have been an unwarranted victory.

After the match assistant manager Gary Simpson said: “I was very disappointed. On the balance of play we definitely deserved to win.”

I was disappointed with the sending-off. There had been persistent fouls on Martin Gritton throughout the game and then Matt has a niggle and he was sent-off, it was very harsh.”

Visiting boss Alan Knill agreed about the balance of play, adding: “I was delighted with a point because we didn’t play very well. Macc were excellent and Keith will feel he should have had three points.”