Macclesfield 1 Grimsby 2

By: Jeremy Bailey
Date: 13/02/2008

THE unbeaten run continued with another away victory last night. I personally have now seen five wins in a row, a record few living Town fans will have ever beaten.

The players tonight were as below and everyone stood where you would expect them to. The semi-crocked (Fenton, Till and Clarke) all started and finished the game apart from Till who got another knock.

01 Barnes
25 Atkinson
06 Fenton
03 Newey
14 Hird
02 Clarke
04 Hunt
11 Boshell (62 Bolland )
17 Hegarty (85 Bennett )
07 Till (72 Jones )
09 North

We started brightly on a clear windless cold night, the 237 (according to Macc, everyone around me thought there was more) Town fans were in fine voice. Our passing game which arrived last Saturday has stayed for the week and we sprayed the ball about well. This report is from memory as it was too cold to take my gloves off and write stuff down and I'm a girlie when it comes to the cold weather!

Macc were playing their part too, with some decent football of their own. Then there was a fantastic (for us anyway) mix-up between three of their defenders when only 5 minutes had been played. With Till and North annoying the aforementioned defenders the ball spilled out and North was away on goal with no one chasing. From fully 25 yards out, he lofted the ball over the stranded goalkeeper, the ball bouncing once before hitting the back of the net.

For the next ten minutes or so we ran the show and looked like running up a cricket score without actually doing anything. Slowly however the ref and Macclesfield began to get into the game more. They are a big strong bunch of lads in Macc and they are quite prepared to stick whatever it takes to get the ball back by foul means or fair.

We played the football, they played on our mistakes. Thomas and Green for Macc were finding some space on our right and were working well together but our defence snuffed out any danger. I do however remember a flying save from Barnes, from long range, which he tipped over the bar for a corner.

As the first half progressed we still knocked the ball about, but some of the passes were going to blokes in blue and they broke very swiftly and directly. Fenton and Atkinson stood firm and Hunt got in the way a couple of times too.

We were the better side but couldn't get that second goal our overall play deserved and Macclesfield looked lively at times. Half time arrived and 0-1 was about fair.

We started the second half like a team possessed, North was clean through within a minute and screwed his shot wide, Till (I think) missed a good chance and then another went begging. Macclesfield were trying to push upfield and we were catching them with quick passing moves on the break. They tended to lump the ball forward while we manoeuvred it around the park like a football team.

Their physical style of play and the refs blindness to it was beginning to take effect and Macclesfield started to boss the proceedings. Although we still looked like scoring ourselves it was no real surprise when they did eventually equalise in the 79th minute. They broke away on our left and Barnes parried a powerful shot into the middle of the penalty area and Evans was on hand to lash the ball into our net. With their tails up they took the game to us for three minutes and we then took the lead again. Clarke it would appear doesn't do normal goals, this one flew into the top right hand corner of their goal, a volley from about 15 yards out and just to the left of the penalty spot.

Frantic joy in the away stand and frantic football on the pitch as we firstly hung on then played out the last few minutes in complete control.

We could have won more convincingly, but we could also have thrown away the game by not taking our chances. No complaints though, long may the run continue.

Lots of good natured singing with the normal Grimsby swearing thrown in for good measure. They didn't open the terracing, so we all sat together and enjoyed a very pleasant evening in Cheshire.

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