Port Vale 1-3 Macclesfield Town

The Silkmen made it four wins in five games as they beat Port Vale for the second time this season.

And once again the home side were disparaging to the Silkmen with their chief scout saying on the radio that the Silkmen ‘would be lucky to avoid relegation’ this season.

So with thanks to him for making Keith’s pre-match team talk so much easier, the Silkmen started the game going at the home side.

It took only nine minutes for the Silkmen to open the scoring as Francis Green turned on the ball in the penalty area and slotted past Anyon in the Vale goal.

Both sides could have scored in the first half as dodds screwed a shot wide before a shot/cross from Franny green whislted inches away from Martin Gritton’s lunge.

But the Silkmen were a goal ahead at half time and the Vale fans vented some of their frustration at the team.

The second half saw the home side getting more dominant in midfield but they were restricted to a string of long range efforts which either didn’t bother Brain, or he could easily gather.

Again both sides had chances. A magnificent run by Martin Gritton took the ball on his own from wide left on the half way line, beat the defence for pace but found the side netting, and at the other end Dodd saw his shot cannon back off the crossbar.

After knocking on the door from long range the home side levelled with a closer effort. Dodds hitting a Glover pull-back past Brain from eight yards with 20 minutes to play.

But the Silkmen had a slice of luck for a change and were back ahead within minutes. An atrocious backpass found Franny Green who raced clear and made no mistake one-on-one to put the Silkmen back ahead.

Lee Bell, who had worked himself into the ground covering every blade of grass, was replaced by Ahmed Deen as the Silkmen looked to take advantage of the demotivated home side.

Jon Brain had to be on form to cut out a cross which would have given Marc richards a tap-in, and Gareth Evans, on for DT, snatched at his shot with others better placed to fire over the bar.

Not that it matteres as with the seconds ticking away Martin Gritton sealed the game.

Vale were pressing forward and he was left five yards behind their defence. Recieving the ball in his own half, he outmuscled the one defender to make up the space, and beat the ‘keeper.

The home side still could have scored as they pushed forward with even the ‘keeper coming up, and it was his pass from the edge of the area that resulted in Nat Brown clearing off the line.

A great result and third round here we come!