by Peter Scherer
Top of the table, unbeaten all season, the task ahead last night at the Don Amott Arena couldn’t be under estimated as Macclesfield came to visit.
But what followed was a night to remember and a reward for Gareth Holmes, Mick Galloway and the whole team.
Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Jake Bennett 3-Brandon Ferron 4-Ryan Wilson 5-Danny Benson 6-Will Atkinson 7-Jamie Soule 8-Charlie Hickingbottom 9-Tyreace Palmer 10-Toby Smith 11-Andy Dales. Subs: Curtis Weston, Stuart Beavon, Marcus Barnes, Callum Moore, Dylan Edwards.
Macclesfield started with pace, determination and remarkable accuracy, forcing Mersin into a save with his feet after just two minutes.
Two minutes later it was another shot and another save, before the rebound went over the bar, as the home defence continued to come under pressure.
Rooney had another wild strike well off target after seven minutes, and Macclesfield then won a corner, but that came to nought.
Mickleover had their first break 11 minutes in, but Palmer’s chase was deemed just offside. It was a turning point though, when having sustained the early barrage, Sports began to believe in themselves and started to break out to put pressure on our visitors.
Bennett sent in a cross from the right, which went just beyond the left hand post, but after 13 minutes Ferron and Dales combined on the left, Dales first shot was saved by Dearnley, but his parry fell to Palmer who neatly slotted it home, 1-0.
Palmer was almost through again two minutes later, but Dearnley just managed to intercept. Macclesfield then got a break and a cross from the right found Mellor, whose header was tipped over by Mersin.
It was real end to end stuff as Bennett triggered another move down the right, from which Dales shot was just wide of the left hand post.
But 21 minutes gone and it was almost number two, after Dales layed it off to Smith in front of goal. But the teenager’s shot was pulled slightly left and it almost skimmed the post.
But Macclesfield were keen for an equaliser to and when Mersin slid out and missed the ball, Bennett came to the rescue and cleared it after a deflection.
24 minutes and the visitors hit the post with an Edmondson free kick, but Sports were not just holding on, they continued to push forward.
Dales was almost clear after 27 minutes, until Pemberton was yellow carded for hacking him down. Then Bennett and Dales combined again, before Dales sent a fizzing shot forcing Dearnley into a low save to his left.
Five more minutes and Dales had another shot blocked, with Smith’s rebound just wide. The Macclesfield defence were looking the more vulnerable and after Soule was fouled, Mickleover went close again after Wilson’s free kick bounced around, before Soule’s effort was cleared off the line, following Ferron’s initial shot.
Bennett was almost through again too as half time approached, but Dearnley just got their first after another positive build up down the left.
Macclesfield finished the first half with a wasted free kick, but against al the odds the half time whistle blew with Mickleover still a goal ahead.
The second half got off to a pacey start again from the visitors, when after 50 minutes they earned a corner, from which Mersin pulled off a magnificent save onto the bar, from what looked a certain equaliser.
But it was Mickleover in the ascendance again, as Ferron charged through the middle. He was looking to pass when Dales shouted encouragement for the teenager to continue. He then found Soule on the edge of the box, who celebrated his 24th birthday with a fine shot to make it 2-0.
Only three minutes later there was confusion in the home defence, when a possible back pass wasn’t cleared. Macclesfield intercepted and it wasn’t clear who got the last touch, but the goal was credited to sub Sean Etaluku and the pressure was now back on Mickleover with 30 minutes still to go. 2-1.
Macclesfield put a free kick wide and then Benson headed away another effort, but the pressure was on as the composure seemed to have returned to their play.
Wilson drove in a free kick after Smith was fouled and Soule found the side netting after 63 minutes, from a Palmer cross, before shooting straight at the keeper two minutes later.
Dales and Ferron made progress again on the left before an interception and then Mersin saved another Macclesfield effort with his feet.
Mickleover’s second change came on 68 minutes with Barnes on for Soule and he had a shot blocked by the keeper as he cut in from the right after 75 minutes.
Edwards then came on for Palmer, but Macclesfield went close again. Their 82nd minute strike hit the bar, but Benson had any chance of a rebound blocked, as he cleared off the line.
As Macclesfield pushed all 11 players forward, Mickleover got another break after 84 minutes, with Barnes going clear on the left. His cross was perfect, but as Edwards slid in, he just failed to connect and the chance was gone.
But Macclesfield hit the post again a minute later, before Sport made their final change with Weston replacing Smith.
Hickingbottom hit a speculative shot over the bar as the clock ran down, while Dales and Barnes combined in another nice move, but adjudged offside.
For probably the fist time this season, Spors looked like a full team, from the heroics of Mersin in goal, through the solid defence of Atkinson and Benson and the positive drive from midfield and attack.
At the end of normal time Dales and Ferron set up Barnes again, but the keeper saved. With six minutes added on the pressure continued and even as the final whistle went, Dales was about to break again, but a fine 2-1 win on an amazing night of football.
