Post by hatter_in_macc on Mar 18, 2015 18:54:57 GMT
My take (at last) on yesterday evening's goings-on on my manor...!
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MACCLESFIELD TOWN v COUNTY (CHESHIRE SENIOR CUP, SEMI-FINAL): MATCH REPORT (17/03/2015)
By Hatter in Macc
Hatters Shot Down By Hunter
Having overcome, away from home, three clubs with the same suffix en route to the last four of the Cheshire Senior Cup, an assignment at the Moss Rose saw the Hatters find Macclesfield just one ‘Town’ too far - albeit after a closely-fought and well-matched contest that was settled by a single goal.
Each team opted to field a number of players who had featured in its most recent League fixture on the East coast. For the Hatters, there were just three changes from the side that started against Lowestoft – with Bobby Lofthouse, Jack Ryan and Chris Sharp replacing Greg Wilkinson and Danny Glover (both of whom were named among the substitutes), as well as Scott Spencer. Macclesfield’s squad, meanwhile, included seven who had participated, at one stage or another, in their weekend defeat at Gateshead.
The Silkmen included in their starting line-up two ex-Hatters, in Adriano Moke and a now-bearded Andy Halls. Their Captain, and another player formerly of the SK3 parish, Paul Turnbull, was, however, rested – and there was also no place for Danny M Rowe.
The Hatters – starting once again with a 5-3-2 formation, and wearing the same white shirts as they had against Lowestoft – spent much of the game’s initial phase competing evenly for possession in midfield. When a team did manage to break during the early exchanges, it was invariably Macclesfield – only to be caught in offside positions.
As the game opened up, Ian Ormson was to be the busier of the two goalkeepers. He did well to keep out a deceptive, looping effort from Lee Bell – before saving more comfortably an attempt by the same player from distance, and diving to parry away a shot and, subsequently, a header from Theo Bailey-Jones.
Immediately following the latter save, the Hatters broke to create a first real chance of their own. And how close they went, too – as Jack Ryan struck the hosts’ crossbar.
With a little over half an hour gone, the Silkmen broke the deadlock. Moke had already threatened his old club with trademark runs down the right flank, and, on this occasion, his low cross proved pinpoint-perfect for Jack Hunter to slot home from close range.
County had two attempts blocked, as they strove to get back on terms. First, Stephen O’Halloran unleashed a low shot to force Macclesfield’s ‘keeper-Captain, Ritchie Branagan, into a diving save – before the outstretched leg of defender, Danny Cowan, intercepted the full force of a shot by Sharp from just inside the home area.
Hunter, looking to add to his team’s, and his own, tally, drove in a low shot that Ormson saved. And Bell was the final player to try his luck ahead of the break, when he fired wide from distance.
HALF-TIME: Macclesfield 1 (Hunter, 32), County 0.
The Hatters made an immediate change to their line-up upon the resumption of play, as Wilkinson replaced Connor Hancock and the five-player defence reverted to a back four.
Moke continued to twist and tease on the right – crossing for Chris Holroyd to glance a header wide, before initiating a County-old-boys move that teed up Halls for a shot. The right back’s low drive lacked pace, however, and was comfortably gathered by Ormson.
County were looking all the more spirited and inventive for Wilkinson’s introduction, and the substitute himself curled a shot from thirty yards into the grateful arms of Branagan. Those in the crowd, too, began to compensate for their low numbers, as the respective groups of segregated fans in the Moss Lane Stand conducted an increasingly lively sing-off competition.
Milan Thompson, from Macclesfield’s bench, entered the field of play by taking up Moke’s position on the wide right – prompting Moke not to exit, stage left, but, rather, to switch to the left flank. Thompson’s first contribution was a well-measured cross to Holroyd, although, on connecting with the delivery, the home striker skied his shot over.
Ryan was to do likewise for the Hatters moments later, after County broke and the loanee from Preston had more time to consider his options than he probably imagined. Tunji Moses then went close with a venomous low drive that brought out the best in Branagan, who dived at full stretch to parry the shot behind.
And thus came to an end County’s interest in the Cheshire Senior Cup for the current campaign – leaving Macclesfield to meet a certain Mr Gannon’s Northwich Victoria in the Final. For the Hatters, as they say in all good punditry circles (and quite a few rotten ones), there’s always next year… and it’s time again to concentrate on the League.
FULL-TIME: Macclesfield 1 (Hunter, 32), County 0.
Team: Ormson, Benjamin (Duxbury, 67), Todd, Lees, Hancock (Wilkinson, 46), O’Halloran, Moses, Russell, Sharp, Ryan, Lofthouse (Glover, 58).
Unused Subs: Powell, Noblett.
Attendance: 489.
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MACCLESFIELD TOWN v COUNTY (CHESHIRE SENIOR CUP, SEMI-FINAL): MATCH REPORT (17/03/2015)
By Hatter in Macc
Hatters Shot Down By Hunter
Having overcome, away from home, three clubs with the same suffix en route to the last four of the Cheshire Senior Cup, an assignment at the Moss Rose saw the Hatters find Macclesfield just one ‘Town’ too far - albeit after a closely-fought and well-matched contest that was settled by a single goal.
Each team opted to field a number of players who had featured in its most recent League fixture on the East coast. For the Hatters, there were just three changes from the side that started against Lowestoft – with Bobby Lofthouse, Jack Ryan and Chris Sharp replacing Greg Wilkinson and Danny Glover (both of whom were named among the substitutes), as well as Scott Spencer. Macclesfield’s squad, meanwhile, included seven who had participated, at one stage or another, in their weekend defeat at Gateshead.
The Silkmen included in their starting line-up two ex-Hatters, in Adriano Moke and a now-bearded Andy Halls. Their Captain, and another player formerly of the SK3 parish, Paul Turnbull, was, however, rested – and there was also no place for Danny M Rowe.
The Hatters – starting once again with a 5-3-2 formation, and wearing the same white shirts as they had against Lowestoft – spent much of the game’s initial phase competing evenly for possession in midfield. When a team did manage to break during the early exchanges, it was invariably Macclesfield – only to be caught in offside positions.
As the game opened up, Ian Ormson was to be the busier of the two goalkeepers. He did well to keep out a deceptive, looping effort from Lee Bell – before saving more comfortably an attempt by the same player from distance, and diving to parry away a shot and, subsequently, a header from Theo Bailey-Jones.
Immediately following the latter save, the Hatters broke to create a first real chance of their own. And how close they went, too – as Jack Ryan struck the hosts’ crossbar.
With a little over half an hour gone, the Silkmen broke the deadlock. Moke had already threatened his old club with trademark runs down the right flank, and, on this occasion, his low cross proved pinpoint-perfect for Jack Hunter to slot home from close range.
County had two attempts blocked, as they strove to get back on terms. First, Stephen O’Halloran unleashed a low shot to force Macclesfield’s ‘keeper-Captain, Ritchie Branagan, into a diving save – before the outstretched leg of defender, Danny Cowan, intercepted the full force of a shot by Sharp from just inside the home area.
Hunter, looking to add to his team’s, and his own, tally, drove in a low shot that Ormson saved. And Bell was the final player to try his luck ahead of the break, when he fired wide from distance.
HALF-TIME: Macclesfield 1 (Hunter, 32), County 0.
The Hatters made an immediate change to their line-up upon the resumption of play, as Wilkinson replaced Connor Hancock and the five-player defence reverted to a back four.
Moke continued to twist and tease on the right – crossing for Chris Holroyd to glance a header wide, before initiating a County-old-boys move that teed up Halls for a shot. The right back’s low drive lacked pace, however, and was comfortably gathered by Ormson.
County were looking all the more spirited and inventive for Wilkinson’s introduction, and the substitute himself curled a shot from thirty yards into the grateful arms of Branagan. Those in the crowd, too, began to compensate for their low numbers, as the respective groups of segregated fans in the Moss Lane Stand conducted an increasingly lively sing-off competition.
Milan Thompson, from Macclesfield’s bench, entered the field of play by taking up Moke’s position on the wide right – prompting Moke not to exit, stage left, but, rather, to switch to the left flank. Thompson’s first contribution was a well-measured cross to Holroyd, although, on connecting with the delivery, the home striker skied his shot over.
Ryan was to do likewise for the Hatters moments later, after County broke and the loanee from Preston had more time to consider his options than he probably imagined. Tunji Moses then went close with a venomous low drive that brought out the best in Branagan, who dived at full stretch to parry the shot behind.
And thus came to an end County’s interest in the Cheshire Senior Cup for the current campaign – leaving Macclesfield to meet a certain Mr Gannon’s Northwich Victoria in the Final. For the Hatters, as they say in all good punditry circles (and quite a few rotten ones), there’s always next year… and it’s time again to concentrate on the League.
FULL-TIME: Macclesfield 1 (Hunter, 32), County 0.
Team: Ormson, Benjamin (Duxbury, 67), Todd, Lees, Hancock (Wilkinson, 46), O’Halloran, Moses, Russell, Sharp, Ryan, Lofthouse (Glover, 58).
Unused Subs: Powell, Noblett.
Attendance: 489.
... better get that changed!:
