[slerpy]

Originally Posted by The Alchemist

1792 people witnessed a feast of a football match. While I have no wish to extol the virtues of the opposition, Macclesfield contributed to an entertaining if somewhat fractious second half.
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The first half seemed to referee itself or rather the light touch of an experienced referee made it so. There was hardly a foul as two team tested each other. Stanley still refuse to shoot at goal. Macclesfield had other ideas and sent powerful sometimes testing shots towards Dunbavin. They grazed his left hand upright with him well beaten. Stanley were not without their opportunities but preferred to try a score from close range. A headed ball back across goal hit the Lee’s crossbar and glanced away. At this point there were no signs of the frenetic second half struggle that was to come. D’Sane had a number of chances/half chances but he was thwarted by defenders, the goalkeeper but perhaps by his own inexperience/anxiety or whatever. He has hardly started this year and his time on the pitch at League 2 level is scant.
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Macclesfield came out early. This is never a good sign. Geed up by their manager they meant business. They pressed strongly but to no avail. Then in a small chase for the ball on the edge of Macclesfield’s penalty area D’Sane nosed in front of the defender, squirmed around Lee, the keeper and as a defender closed down the gap on the goal line, Roscoe fired home. It seemed like ‘a knife through butter’ in the speed and finish of this improving Stanley player. Shortly afterwards a probing through ball from a mid-fielder set D’Sane free on the Main Stand side. Roscoe advanced at speed and crossed, across goal. Who else could you expect to be there other than Paul ‘Mr. Six Yard Box’ Mullin. He gleefully converted. It was if a large animal had been poked with a stick. Macclesfield roared back and Stanley where on the back foot. Defending was becoming more last minute. Macclesfield converted a penalty and Macclesfield kept coming. A corner was headed in of the bar. 2-2 and Stanley were reeling. Then as at Dagenham a goal is scored that you will always remember but for different reasons. I felt a sense of shame as a defender collided with Lee and Roscoe took the ball towards the empty net. That he scored his second goal in the way that he did was not in sporting manner. You may say sod sportsmanship it’s a Stanley goal. But I am judging this as a dispassionate, logical observer. I was not in Roscoe’s elated self and for this I forgive him. I would not want to censure him too harshly at this point. That Stanley were in front and by such a goal [note I have not described it] riled Macclesfield and the referee began to earn his money. Bookings, confrontations and a descent from an equitable first half meant that the game could have easily have out of control. But it didn’t. Macclesfield pressed to the end. At one point with Dunbavin wrong footed and the Macclesfield fans half raising their arms the ball was hacked away. There were a number of close shaves. Due to the way Stanley play at the back, being able to defend like this is an advantage but Stanley spectators always live in dread. After what seemed an age the match ended 3 –2. It’s funny how history can repeat itself so quickly. It was only in May that a similar score line saw Stanley safely home in League 2

A win is a win Brian Clough wasn't fussy and neither am I , consolidation is our aim and then an increase in the attendance.