Macc U21’s see off Curzon - minutes for Duffus & Maieco
Match report & touchline titbits
Please excuse any typos in this post. I’m writing this on a train heading to London for work and using the Substack editor app for the first time.
Courtney Duffus and Edy Maieco got valuable minutes as Macc U21’s defeated Curzon Ashton U21’s 2-1 with a controversial late penalty from Jamie Walker sealing victory.
Striker Duffus played 85 minutes and was more effective as the game wore on, whereas forward Maieco (who played as a number 10) was withdrawn at half-time and can feel pleased with his contribution.
Maieco looks like a player who will dazzle and frustrate in equal measure, however one thing appears certain - he will never hide. Edy was popping up all over the pitch and always available to receive possession.
On occasion his attempts to service Duffus didn’t come off, whilst on others he took too long to make his mind up when confronted by a fairly static forward line. But without fail, he always battled to win the ball back and regained possession twice after he’d initially lost it. I liked his attitude.
Maieco also created two big goalscoring chances. A classy defence splitting ball set Duffus through on goal who slotted home under the Curzon keeper’s legs, but unfortunately the goal was disallowed due to a marginal offside. Later on, Maieco advanced forward and slipped in Charlie Rodgers who could only find the side netting from 12 yards.
Right winger Rodgers was lively throughout. He opened the scoring for Macc just after half-time with a deft flick inside the box which cannoned off the post and went in. The Curzon keeper almost performed heroics to keep it out, but the referee positioned about 30 yards from goal adjudged the ball had crossed the line. I wasn’t convinced, but who am I to argue? ;-).
The ref, operating without assistant referees, had a bit of a thankless task thereafter and incurred the full rath of the Curzon bench as the match drew to a close and tackles from the frustrated opposition started flying in.
Before then Macc could have doubled their lead. Duffus robbed a defender in possession but could only curl his effort wide. It was good to see Courtney grow into the game though. He grafted, showed decent hold up play, and won some flick ons in the air which he aimed at his teammates rather than winning a header for the sake of it.
Duffus almost got on the scoresheet when latching onto a peach of a through ball from left back Kerr Dollochin. Duffus rounded the keeper, but took it fractionally wide and his goalbound effort was blocked by a Curzon defender scurrying back. Courtney hasn’t played a lot of minutes in the last 12 months and is still working his way back to optimum sharpness. He has some solid attributes though at this level.
A quick word on Kerr Dollochin - this lad looks a tremendous prospect. He was always looking to get forward from left back, either playing give and gos, distributing long, accurate passes down the middle or looking to run down the wing. He was also strong and in the tackle. Kerr, who I believe is only 16 years-old, gained two weeks ‘work experience’ training with Italian giants Juventus over the summer as part of a Macc Academy initiative. After yesterday, I can’t wait to see him play again.
Midfielder Henry McNulty (subbed on the hour), who starred last week vs Stalybridge, impressed in cameos but ought to have done better with a couple of efforts on goal. Forward buzzsaw Jamie Walker showed great initiative to flick the ball over the Curzon full-back and galloped down the left wing. Frustratingly, his cutback to McNulty was too heavy and Henry couldn’t control the pace of the ball and the chance was gone. I love Walker’s tenacity, he just needs to pause for breath in order to make the right decisions in the final third and he too looks a bright prospect.
But it was Curzon who levelled with 20 minutes to go. The visitor’s number 9 had struck the bar with a chip moments earlier, but then made no mistake when sent clear and he arrowed his finish into the net from 12 yards out. It had been coming after Macc’s defence played too high a line during the second half.
Macc may have settled for the draw, but Jamie Walker wasn’t having any of it. He latched onto a punt forward and was brought down on the edge of the box - at least that’s what I and others watching in the crowd presumed. The ref thought otherwise though and pointed to the spot to Curzon’s disbelief. My immediate reaction was that there didn’t seem a remote possibility that Walker had been felled in the penalty area. Curzon’s incensed appeals were turned away and Walker dusted himself down to convert the spot-kick, low and hard into the goal to give Macc a 2-1 win.
Touchline titbits
Robbie Savage was in attendance and understandably thrilled after Macc’s 1-0 win over Stockton sent the Silkmen top of the NPL, maintaining their excellent unbeaten start to the season. Savage was delighted with the togetherness of the squad and hailed striker Danny Elliott’s best performance yet in a Macc shirt. Sav felt Macc were good value for their 1-0 win and were relatively comfortable against a Stockton side who worked hard but failed to register an effort on target.
Tom Clare missed the game due to an achilles niggle, but hopefully will be back soon. The big striker joins injured midfielders Danny Whitehead (4 weeks) and Elliot Whitehouse (8 weeks) currently on the treatment table
Winger Ali Hayder, who joined Macc on a short-term deal and featured off the bench in Macc’s win over Tadcaster in the FA Cup, is no longer with the Silkmen. Hayder, formerly on Stoke City’s books, is currently on trial at Altrincham
But new signing D’Mani Mellor is one player who is remaining at the Leasing.com stadium. Mellor, who had a lively debut following his introduction in the second half against Stockton, has signed a deal with Macc until the end of this season. Savage sees Mellor as a striker or number 10, and highlighted that the majority of his appearances for Wycombe and Rochdale came as a winger in response to online criticism of Mellor’s goalscoring record.