Silkmen 2 Darlington 1 - report

Mellor's late winner sends Macc into the play-offs

Wow, what a ride the National League North is going to be this season! Every team is capable of beating everyone else and you literally never know if Macc are going to win, lose or draw.

D’Mani Mellor’s fantastic finish earned the Silkmen a dramatic late winner against Darlington in an enthralling encounter which resembled a game of basketball at times. End-to-end, pushing forward with reckless abandon as both sides looked bright offensively but vulnerable at the back. How we were only treated to three goals I’ll never know.

Rooney takes the handbrake off

John Rooney was rewarded for his bravery in both his team selection and substitutions, realising that sometimes attack can be the best form of defence. The fledgling Silkmen boss resisted playing two ‘stoppers’ in central midfield, instead switching the influential Luke Duffy from the wing to partner Regan Griffiths in the centre of the park. It worked a treat as Macclesfield looked so much more positive and threatening in the final third.

Roons also went with Isaac Buckley-Ricketts and Sean Etaluku as conventional wingers in a 4-2-3-1 formation, finally playing the naturally left-sided Etaluku on the left. IBR and Sean terrorised Darlington all afternoon, but it was another winger in substitute Justin Johnson who produced some magic to conjure up an opportunity which Mellor duly despatched to make it 2-1.

JJ has almost become a forgotten man at the Leasing.com stadium. Restricted to a solitary 92nd substitute appearance against Worksop on the opening day, Rooney has steadfastly refused to utilise him as Macc have often found themselves in the trenches against the likes of Alfreton and Spennymoor.

And even yesterday, the Silkmen boss only turned to Johnson in the 87th minute as a final roll of the dice. Whatever. It worked. JJ provided a precious and timely reminder of what he can do at this level so let’s hope we see more of him against Merthyr on Tuesday.

End-to-End first half

The first half was breathtaking. Danny Elliott had the beating of Darlo defender Elliot Forbes from the outset and might have had a penalty even before the eventual spot-kick was awarded, but the referee wasn’t interested when Danny was dragged down in the box.

A minute later though Macc did earn a penalty and this time there could be no argument. Elliott did Forbes for the pace out on the right and the Darlo defender fouled him in the area. Danny despatched the spot-kick, side-footing the ball into the net after his trademark short, stuttering run-up sent Pete Jameson in goal the wrong way. 1-0 Macc with only four minutes on the clock.

It should have been 2-0 not long after but Isaac Buckley-Ricketts lost his footing when rounding the keeper with the goal gaping!

The Quakers responded well though in the wet and blustery conditions. A long ball over the top had Rollin Menayese in trouble, but Max Dearnley raced off his line to thwart the danger. But Darlington did deservedly equalise on 11 minutes. A lofted cross from the right was nodded home by targetman Jack Maskell who escaped the attentions of Menayese in the box to head home from six yards.

The frenetic action continued and Darlington looked more likely to take the lead, forcing three corners in quick succession that Macclesfield dealt with well. But the Silkmen were almost undone by two excellent pieces of skill.

Regan Griffiths got pick-pocketed by the dangerous Cedric Main, who advanced into the box and was poised to pull the trigger, only to be impeded by the backtracking Griffiths who gave away a free-kick right on the edge of the area. Another yard and it would have been penalty, but even more fortunately for Macc the referee decided against awarding Regan a red card. I think it’s fair to say that Griffiths denied Main a clear goalscoring opportunity, but perhaps the covering Josef Yarney may have got a block in which dictated the official’s rationale. Either way, it was touch and go and it was no surprise when Rooney hauled off the booked Griffiths at half-time. The resultant free-kick hit the wall.

More enterprising play by Darlo created another big chance. Scott beat Fensome to a header on the left touchline, the ball fell to Main who backheeled it into Scott’s path who ran towards goal. Thankfully, Scott wasn’t able to get the ball out of his feet and Dearnley smothered his toe-poked effort.

At the other end, the Silkmen almost snatched the lead on the stroke of half-time. Great work down the right by Buckley-Ricketts saw him cut the ball back to Elliott whose shot produced an excellent save by Jameson with his legs.

Second half

Rooney made a big call during the interval, replacing Griffiths with a less than fully-fit Paul Dawson who was named on the bench after missing out at Spennymoor. And you’ve got to give Rooney and Dawson enormous credit because the skipper turned the game in Macc’s favour.

Suddenly we started to win the midfield battle and Dawson’s tackling, direct running and range of passing was the perfect foil for Luke Duffy. And it was Dawson who did just enough to put Jack Maskell off when the striker could only head wide from close range after he again found half a yard inbetween Macclesfield’s defenders. He also ‘took one for the team’ when earning a booking for impeding Main after he latched onto a poor clearance from Dearnley.

The skipper was literally everywhere. He flew into a 50-50 duel in the middle of the park, the ball broke to Duffy who attempted an audacious effort from 40 yards which failed to trouble the keeper, much to Rooney’s and Francis Jeffers’ annoyance in the dugout.

The energy sapping pace of the first half had understandably slowed and the game appeared to drifting towards a stalemate. But Rooney went for the jugular against a side who have earned an unenviable reputation for capsizing late on, as evidenced when Darlo tossed away a two-goal lead at home against Telford on Monday.

Excellent pressing by Etaluku (who had been switched to the right) won possession for the Silkmen high up the pitch. Sean played in Duffy who advanced into the box but Duffs unusually passed on the chance to shoot and instead tried to pick IBR out to no avail.

Macc then wasted an even better opportunity moments later. Mellor played a peach of a pass out to Sean Etaluku that split the Quakers’ defence. Etaluku rolled the ball back into the onrushing Mellor’s path who could only drag his shot past the post. This was fantastic, quick play though from the Silkmen whose tremendous fitness levels were in evidence once more as they finished strongly.

And Rooney’s troops deservedly got their rewards. It was two of our substitutes, new signing Luke Griffiths and Justin Johnson who combined. Griffiths pumped out a ball to the left touchline which Johnson collected. He showed the full-back that he was going to drift inside, only to change direction in the blink of an eye and go on the outside towards the byline. JJ’s cross caused panic in the box, the ball came to Mellor with his back to goal in a crowded area, who turned and hit a hard shot from 12 yards which flew into the net. What a moment, and what a sensational finish from D’Mani! 2-1.

The referee awarded eight minutes of stoppage time and Macc survived a late scare when Dearnley scrambled a low shot around the post after getting down well to keep it out. The corner was cleared and the Silkmen earned their first win in three games, taking them up to sixth in the National League North table.

The victory was entirely deserved based on Macclesfield’s second half supremacy. Even had it remained at 1-1, this was undoubtedly the Silkmen’s best attacking performance of the season which gives us a real platform to build from now.

Match stats

Shots on target: Macc 4, Darlington 4

Shots off target: Macc 3, Darlington 3

Corners: Macc 7, Darlington 5

Player ratings

Dearnley 7.5 - produced two vital saves in each half, smothering a shot from close range and diverting a low shot around the post in injury time. Needs to watch his kicking though, almost committed a Southport-esque clearance which would have gifted an opportunity to Darlington had Dawson not fouled Cedric Main. Also put Regan Griffiths under pressure with a poor throw.

Fensome 6 - I’m a big Lewis Fensome fan, but I think he’s struggled with the step up to the National League North thus far, primarily because he’s not a full-back. Unusually got beat in the air which led to a big chance to the visitor’s in the first half, the pace of the game appeared to pass him by at times and positionally got caught out by passes played inbetween him and Yarney. Limped off with 20 minutes to go to be replaced by Sam Heathcote. Lewis suggested afterwards that this was due to cramp so hopefully he’s ok for Tuesday against Merthyr.

Yarney 6.5 - Seems to be public enemy no.1 amongst some supporters, but I thought he was our best defender yesterday. It was a fairly low bar though! I’d like to see him be more commanding and decisive, but after a tricky start to his Silkmen career I think Yarney is gradually settling.

Menayese 6 - begins his three-match ban for his sending off against Spennymoor on Tuesday. Rollin wasn’t convincing yesterday. Almost got done by a long ball over the top, then completely lost Maskell for Darlington’s equaliser when he was practically right next to him.

Lacey 6 - I like Lacey’s tenacity, however as a fellow left footer he reminds me of how I used to play at school - picked at left-back but would much rather play in midfield! Lacey’s positioning and unwillingness to act as a conventional full-back is a problem. He was nowhere to be found for Darlington’s equaliser, allowing a cross to drift over from the right unchallenged because he’d wandered over into a central position.

He was also at fault in the Griffiths incident which led to Darlo earning a free-kick right on the edge of the box. Lacey’s positioning was all over the place in the build-up to that chance and he was unable to get near to Cedric Main to make a challenge, prompting Griffiths to take matters into his own hands and commit the foul.

Griffiths 6 - plenty of industry but a liability at times. Dallied too much on the ball and got dispossessed, which directly led to the free-kick incident when Griffiths attempted to recover and hauled down Main just outside the penalty area. Was a lucky boy not to earn a red card, and without meaning to be disrespectful to Regan, we looked so much better with Dawson in central midfield after he’d replaced him.

Duffy 8 - a revelation in central midfield. Positive, bright, carried the ball forward and was involved in the majority of our offence. Had a shot saved with the outside of his boot in the first half, and should have had an effort in the second half after Etaluku played him in but surprisingly declined to shoot. Hopefully Rooney keeps him in central midfield now as we looked so much more potent with Duffy playing there.

Buckley-Ricketts 8 - great to see him restored to the starting line-up and Isaac covered some serious yards, buzzing up and down both flanks and constantly grilling Darlington’s full-backs. Could and should have scored when rounding the keeper one-on-one - I thought he stumbled at the last moment and it was never a penalty, despite some appealing for it to be.

Created a big chance for Elliott in the first half which produced a fine save. With Duffy being switched to the centre, hopefully IBR will get a run of games now to cement in his first-team place.

Mellor 8 - cracking finish for the goal, turning and firing a powerful shot in a crowded area to earn us three points. Might have done better moments prior to that after starting and ending a move but dragged his shot wide after latching on to Etaluku’s pass. Some supporters in the Star Lane thought D’Mani should have been awarded a penalty in the first half after he was dragged down in the penalty area. Sadly, I missed it.

Etaluku 8 - like IBR, Sean put a serious shift in. Started on the left and looked more assured taking defenders on, but equally caused havoc when switched to the right in the second half. Excellent pressing led to a chance for Duffy, then deserved an assist when laying on an excellent opportunity for Mellor following a sweeping move. He’s looking really bright at the moment.

Elliott 8 - notched his second goal of the season, cooly dispatching the penalty he earned after drawing the foul from Forbes. Danny’s had a really strong start to the season and appears to be working harder than ever in a Silkmen shirt. Almost created an assist for Mellor in the first half but his centre was a fraction overhit, and was denied a second by a great save.

Substitutes:

Dawson 8.5 - what a 45 minute cameo from our half-fit captain! Grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, dominated midfield and offered vital cover for our defence who had been under sustained pressure in the first half. Good covering tackling and educated passing, and also had a decent free-kick attempt which went just over. Needs to be used sparingly at the moment, but Rooney’s gamble to bring Daws on was a masterstroke yesterday.

Heathcote 7 - replaced Fensome with 20 minutes to go and kept things tight at the back. Likely to get more minutes as Menayese commences his three-match ban.

Johnson 8 - on for Lacey on 87 minutes and produced a sublime piece of skill to create the winner. A great way to belatedly celebrate his birthday!

Luke Griffiths 7 - only on for the last five minutes but made an excellent first impression. A fine ball out wide set Johnson free in the lead up to the winning goal.

Dos Santos no rating - on for IBR in the 94th minute.