Wrexham Youth 1
Macclesfield Town Youth 2
Football League Youth Alliance (North West Conference)

Match Report

“A poor game – we never got going and never showed anything on the ball,” was Steve Cooper’s verdict after a disappointing defeat by Macclesfield in the last game before the Christmas break. Macclesfield dominated a scrappy opening half-hour, though strangely it was the Dragons that looked the more threatening as an attacking force despite their limited possession. And the best chance during this passage of play came the Dragons’ way when Obi Anoruo found himself bearing down on goal only to see his shot saved by the legs of the visiting keeper.

Despite dominating the early part of the game when the visitors grabbed the lead on 35 minutes it came from a quick counter-attack down the right-hand side, a low cross being easily tapped in from close range. “It was poor possession play on our part,” admitted Steve. “We kept giving the ball away. But we didn’t deserve to be behind – though not winning either!”

The Silkmen then doubled their lead on 55 minutes with an unmarked header from a right-wing corner. Anoruo then found himself in a one-on-one again and, again, the keeper did well to save. Soon afterwards the ball dropped to substitute Jordan Kane near the penalty spot but when you fancied him to score he blazed his shot over the bar. Mark Head then did the same with probably an even easier chance.

Finally though the Dragons did get the goal their efforts deserved on 78 minutes when the ball fell to Anoruo by the penalty spot and the striker made the half-yard he needed before beating the keeper with a left-foot shot. Mark Head then fired just over the bar with a beautifully struck 25-yarder as the Dragons searched for an equaliser but the visitors held on to take all three points. Chris Marriott was sent off along with a Macclesfield player for retaliating after being spat at in the face late on.

“Overall it was a poor performance, but it was still disappointing to miss four good opportunities and give two sloppy goals away,” added Steve. “But even if we’d have won 4-2 it would still have been disappointing!”