Macclesfield v County: COWS Friendly Match Report (24/07/2015)
Jul 25, 2015 12:49:32 GMT
bringbacklenwhite likes this
Post by hatter_in_macc on Jul 25, 2015 12:49:32 GMT
My take on last night's proceedings just down the road (well... from Macc Towers, at least!) follows.
To appear on COWS in due course, so enjoy the sneak-preview!
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MACCLESFIELD TOWN v COUNTY (PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY): MATCH REPORT (24/07/2015)
By Hatter in Macc
Haunted By The Phantom Menace, County Are!
Such are the quirks of footballing fate, some occasions, whether one likes it or not, lend themselves to having the script written in advance.
And so it came to pass at the Moss Rose that last season’s top goal-scorer for County, Kristian Dennis, now on a year-long loan to the Silkmen - a team hitherto without a goal to their name in pre-season - scored Macclesfield’s opener in a well-fought contest that saw the Hatters, for the second successive away-friendly, lose by the odd goal in three but enjoy another useful pre-season workout.
Neil Young handed starts to both of his most recent captures: holding midfielder, Lewis Montrose, from York; and the Everton youth-loanee, Jordan Thorniley, in central defence. Lamin Colley also featured in the eleven that took to the field, while Sefton Gonzales and Kay Odejayi (both of whom were named among County’s substitutes), as well as Sean O’Hanlon, were the players from Wednesday’s starting line-up against Bolton to step down.
The Silkmen included four former Hatters in their squad - with Danny Whitehead and Club Skipper, Paul Turnbull, starting in addition to Dennis, and Danny M Rowe taking his place on the home bench.
During the quiet opening stages of the contest, on a damp and grey Friday evening, the brightest things on view were County’s dazzling pink ‘Dizzy Blonde’ shirts - part of a special kit sponsored by Robinsons Brewery in support of a local sufferer of Locked-in Syndrome, Michelle Wheatley.
Dennis was soon, however, to show his declaration of intent for the evening. Having had an early free kick blocked by the County wall, The Menace, shortly afterwards, tested Danny Hurst with a low drive that stung the diving Hurst’s hands before being cleared by Thorniley.
Not that the Hatters were without attempts of their own, mind. Joe Garvin shot wide from outside the home area, before Abs Baggie - seemingly looking to convert each of his chances from an increasingly spectacular distance - drilled a low drive just beyond the left post from well over thirty yards.
A cross from the left by Theo Bailey-Jones posed the next challenge for County’s defence, although Dennis and Chris Holroyd, awaiting its arrival in the six-yard box, failed between them to connect properly, and the danger was cleared by Gareth Roberts, on stand-in Captaining duty for the evening.
The Menace threatened on two further occasions - first, heading a Dan Cowan long-ball over the County bar, before unleashing a low shot from twenty yards that Hurst gathered at the second attempt.
The Hatters earned their first corner of the match, following good work on the right by-line by Micah Evans, whose dragged-back pass culminated in a shot by Garvin that was deflected behind. The corner itself found Colley at the far post, but the striker’s header ended up just shy of the upright.
Holroyd looked to be posing the Hatters as much of a threat as Dennis, and Macclesfield’s Number Nine went close with a rasping shot that Hurst tipped around his left post. But Holroyd’s part in the script was not set to develop fully until the second half...
For now, and just a minute or so ahead of the break, Dennis took centre-stage, as he reacted quickest to a hastily-taken short free kick by Hurst. The Menace dispossessed Thorniley, before rounding the County ‘keeper and - despite the attentions of Ryan Ellison on the goal-line - left-footing home from close range to give the Silkmen the lead.
HALF-TIME: Macclesfield 1 (Dennis, 44), County 0.
Gonzales and Odejayi took their bows as the second half got underway, and their presence in attack led to a spell of concerted pressure from the Hatters immediately following the interval.
A corner in the opening seconds was headed well wide by Gonzales, but the former Clitheroe striker was soon in action again as a provider - crossing from the right to Garvin, who, under the close attention of two defenders, looped an effort just beyond the bar.
Gonzales then reverted to target-man - heading on Baggie’s left-wing delivery to force a parry by Dale Eve, before following up to bundle the ball into Macclesfield’s net. While beating the home ‘keeper, however, he could not get the better of a raised flag, and the home side remained a goal to the good. Eve it most certainly was, though, who preserved that lead moments later - saving with his legs after Baggie had picked up a Garvin cross from the left and struck an angled low drive goal-wards.
It was, then, against the run of play when, ten minutes into the second half, the Silkmen doubled their tally. A long ball from deep in Macclesfield’s half found Danny Whitaker - now donning the Captain’s armband, following Turnbull’s early substitution - who crossed from the right to an unmarked Holroyd fifteen yards out. Seizing his chance in the spotlight without hesitation, Holroyd unleashed a first-time shot that gave Hurst little chance.
To mark the doubling of their lead, the Silkmen replaced Eve in goal with Richie Branagan. And the latter was soon called into action - parrying out a venomous half-volley by Glenn Rule that one of County’s substitutes, Karl Ledsham, followed up to hit the back of Macclesfield’s net. Once again, alas, the flag decreed that the goal should not count.
County continued to enjoy more of the possession and to create opportunities. Mark Lees connected with a Garvin corner at the far post, but sliced his shot across the face of goal. Then, Garvin himself forced two corners from successive free kicks just outside the box, before launching a long ball from his temporary left-back position (assumed following the departure of Roberts) that saw Odejayi’s one-on-one effort blocked by Branagan.
It was another move starting deep in the County half that finally rewarded the pressure with a goal. Hurst’s kick upfield was nodded on by Gonzales to Odejayi, whose headed knock-down was blasted home by the left foot of Charlie Russell. The young midfielder commemorated his first senior conversion for the Hatters with a ‘Tiger Tim’ fist-pump, but probably wisely decided against any form of further celebration involving a more dramatic wrestling move...
The remaining chances of the game fell to the Hatters, as they went in search of an equalizer. Garvin, with a now-trademark in-swinger of a corner from the right, forced Branagan to punch clear from the line. Odejayi broke through into the area, before electing to lob at the replacement ‘keeper. And, finally, a neat move involving Gonzales and Ledsham culminated in a Rule header that cleared the bar.
In the end, this particular Friday Night wasn’t, result-wise, to be County’s Night. But, once again, a solid and creative pre-season performance provided grounds to anticipate plenty of positive afternoons and evenings in the course of the forthcoming campaign-proper.
FULL-TIME: Macclesfield 2 (Dennis, 44; Holroyd, 55), County 1 (Russell, 84).
Team: Hurst, Morton (Lees, 60), Roberts (Ledsham, 55), Ellison, Thorniley, Montrose, Baggie (Russell, 71), Rule, Colley (Odejayi, 46), Evans (Gonzales, 46), Garvin.
Unused Sub: Tyson.
Booked: Evans.
Attendance: 720.
To appear on COWS in due course, so enjoy the sneak-preview!
*****************************************************************************************************
MACCLESFIELD TOWN v COUNTY (PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY): MATCH REPORT (24/07/2015)
By Hatter in Macc
Haunted By The Phantom Menace, County Are!
Such are the quirks of footballing fate, some occasions, whether one likes it or not, lend themselves to having the script written in advance.
And so it came to pass at the Moss Rose that last season’s top goal-scorer for County, Kristian Dennis, now on a year-long loan to the Silkmen - a team hitherto without a goal to their name in pre-season - scored Macclesfield’s opener in a well-fought contest that saw the Hatters, for the second successive away-friendly, lose by the odd goal in three but enjoy another useful pre-season workout.
Neil Young handed starts to both of his most recent captures: holding midfielder, Lewis Montrose, from York; and the Everton youth-loanee, Jordan Thorniley, in central defence. Lamin Colley also featured in the eleven that took to the field, while Sefton Gonzales and Kay Odejayi (both of whom were named among County’s substitutes), as well as Sean O’Hanlon, were the players from Wednesday’s starting line-up against Bolton to step down.
The Silkmen included four former Hatters in their squad - with Danny Whitehead and Club Skipper, Paul Turnbull, starting in addition to Dennis, and Danny M Rowe taking his place on the home bench.
During the quiet opening stages of the contest, on a damp and grey Friday evening, the brightest things on view were County’s dazzling pink ‘Dizzy Blonde’ shirts - part of a special kit sponsored by Robinsons Brewery in support of a local sufferer of Locked-in Syndrome, Michelle Wheatley.
Dennis was soon, however, to show his declaration of intent for the evening. Having had an early free kick blocked by the County wall, The Menace, shortly afterwards, tested Danny Hurst with a low drive that stung the diving Hurst’s hands before being cleared by Thorniley.
Not that the Hatters were without attempts of their own, mind. Joe Garvin shot wide from outside the home area, before Abs Baggie - seemingly looking to convert each of his chances from an increasingly spectacular distance - drilled a low drive just beyond the left post from well over thirty yards.
A cross from the left by Theo Bailey-Jones posed the next challenge for County’s defence, although Dennis and Chris Holroyd, awaiting its arrival in the six-yard box, failed between them to connect properly, and the danger was cleared by Gareth Roberts, on stand-in Captaining duty for the evening.
The Menace threatened on two further occasions - first, heading a Dan Cowan long-ball over the County bar, before unleashing a low shot from twenty yards that Hurst gathered at the second attempt.
The Hatters earned their first corner of the match, following good work on the right by-line by Micah Evans, whose dragged-back pass culminated in a shot by Garvin that was deflected behind. The corner itself found Colley at the far post, but the striker’s header ended up just shy of the upright.
Holroyd looked to be posing the Hatters as much of a threat as Dennis, and Macclesfield’s Number Nine went close with a rasping shot that Hurst tipped around his left post. But Holroyd’s part in the script was not set to develop fully until the second half...
For now, and just a minute or so ahead of the break, Dennis took centre-stage, as he reacted quickest to a hastily-taken short free kick by Hurst. The Menace dispossessed Thorniley, before rounding the County ‘keeper and - despite the attentions of Ryan Ellison on the goal-line - left-footing home from close range to give the Silkmen the lead.
HALF-TIME: Macclesfield 1 (Dennis, 44), County 0.
Gonzales and Odejayi took their bows as the second half got underway, and their presence in attack led to a spell of concerted pressure from the Hatters immediately following the interval.
A corner in the opening seconds was headed well wide by Gonzales, but the former Clitheroe striker was soon in action again as a provider - crossing from the right to Garvin, who, under the close attention of two defenders, looped an effort just beyond the bar.
Gonzales then reverted to target-man - heading on Baggie’s left-wing delivery to force a parry by Dale Eve, before following up to bundle the ball into Macclesfield’s net. While beating the home ‘keeper, however, he could not get the better of a raised flag, and the home side remained a goal to the good. Eve it most certainly was, though, who preserved that lead moments later - saving with his legs after Baggie had picked up a Garvin cross from the left and struck an angled low drive goal-wards.
It was, then, against the run of play when, ten minutes into the second half, the Silkmen doubled their tally. A long ball from deep in Macclesfield’s half found Danny Whitaker - now donning the Captain’s armband, following Turnbull’s early substitution - who crossed from the right to an unmarked Holroyd fifteen yards out. Seizing his chance in the spotlight without hesitation, Holroyd unleashed a first-time shot that gave Hurst little chance.
To mark the doubling of their lead, the Silkmen replaced Eve in goal with Richie Branagan. And the latter was soon called into action - parrying out a venomous half-volley by Glenn Rule that one of County’s substitutes, Karl Ledsham, followed up to hit the back of Macclesfield’s net. Once again, alas, the flag decreed that the goal should not count.
County continued to enjoy more of the possession and to create opportunities. Mark Lees connected with a Garvin corner at the far post, but sliced his shot across the face of goal. Then, Garvin himself forced two corners from successive free kicks just outside the box, before launching a long ball from his temporary left-back position (assumed following the departure of Roberts) that saw Odejayi’s one-on-one effort blocked by Branagan.
It was another move starting deep in the County half that finally rewarded the pressure with a goal. Hurst’s kick upfield was nodded on by Gonzales to Odejayi, whose headed knock-down was blasted home by the left foot of Charlie Russell. The young midfielder commemorated his first senior conversion for the Hatters with a ‘Tiger Tim’ fist-pump, but probably wisely decided against any form of further celebration involving a more dramatic wrestling move...
The remaining chances of the game fell to the Hatters, as they went in search of an equalizer. Garvin, with a now-trademark in-swinger of a corner from the right, forced Branagan to punch clear from the line. Odejayi broke through into the area, before electing to lob at the replacement ‘keeper. And, finally, a neat move involving Gonzales and Ledsham culminated in a Rule header that cleared the bar.
In the end, this particular Friday Night wasn’t, result-wise, to be County’s Night. But, once again, a solid and creative pre-season performance provided grounds to anticipate plenty of positive afternoons and evenings in the course of the forthcoming campaign-proper.
FULL-TIME: Macclesfield 2 (Dennis, 44; Holroyd, 55), County 1 (Russell, 84).
Team: Hurst, Morton (Lees, 60), Roberts (Ledsham, 55), Ellison, Thorniley, Montrose, Baggie (Russell, 71), Rule, Colley (Odejayi, 46), Evans (Gonzales, 46), Garvin.
Unused Sub: Tyson.
Booked: Evans.
Attendance: 720.
