I pondered on Saturday whether the Alfreton result was a point gained or two dropped. Well, today’s 0-0 stalemate away at Spennymoor was undoubtedly a precious point earned in a match where everything could and did go wrong for the Silkmen, who were harshly sent down to 10 men just before half time following Rollin Menayese’s straight red.
I’ll dissect the game in greater detail shortly, but however we achieved it, this was a big point against a Spennymoor side who had won 3 out of their opening 4 games and narrowly missed out in the play-offs in their previous two seasons. We’d have settled for a draw beforehand, right?
The Silkmen were rocked by captain Paul Dawson’s absence in the build-up (Daws is expected to be out injured for a while), Macc then lost Luke Matheson on 18 minutes.
Manager John Rooney was forced to shuffle his pack on multiple occasions today. We started with a back three - Fensome, Yarney and Menayese, with Matheson and Etaluku deployed as wingbacks. Luis Lacey was surprisingly pushed into midfield with Duffy and Griffiths as Rooney paired Mellor and Elliott upfront.
Matheson was withdrawn after coming off second best in a challenge by the touchline. He was replaced by Danny Whitehead who played in central midfield alongside Griffiths, Lacey was moved to left wing back, whilst Sean Etaluku was switched to the opposite side.
Worse was to come though. The otherwise steady Menayese showed poor control to allow the ball to run away from him following a punt upfield. Rollin tried to recover, but his lunged challenge felled Moors’ striker Glen Taylor to the right of the box with his back to goal.
Taylor squealed theatrically clutching his ankle and the ref bought it hook, line and sinker. Straight red for Rollin and an early bath, or maybe a hot tub would have been more fitting on a baking summer’s day?
Did Rollin deserve it? Absolutely not. I was 5 yards away and I think there was only minimal contact. The linesman didn’t raise his flag, the home fans around me all thought it was a yellow at worst. How the ref arrived at a red card is beyond me. It was a clumsy challenge, yes, but there was no malicious intent in an area of the pitch where Spennymoor were unlikely to create a goalscoring opportunity. Shocking decision.
But let’s get something straight. The red card didn’t change the pattern of what was an appalling spectacle, devoid of any attacking ideas, in a game where the Silkmen looked laboured in possession and devoid of any threat.
Equally, the home side can hardly blame Macc for parking the bus thereafter, and for their clueless attacking impetus which didn’t deserve three points.
Rooney again changed things up - Sam Heathcote came on for the sacrificed Duffy as we set up in a 4-4-1 formation. Yarney and Sam as centre backs, Fenners and Lacey as full-backs. Midfield comprised Griffiths, Whitehead, Etaluku and Mellor, with Elliott a lone and isolated figure up front. It’s the best we could do given the circumstances.
The second half proved a little more perilous, but only slightly. I can’t even describe this as a backs to the wall display. If anything, we were subjected to much more pressure by Alfreton at the weekend.
Spennymoor had a brief ten minute spell which threatened a goal. A ball was slipped inside Fensome but Max was quickly off his line and smothered the shot at full stretch. This was a key save because had he spilled it the home side were poised for a tap in.
Then a long ball into the box split our centre halves. Again Max was off his line smartly and got his hands partially on Spennymoor’s attempted lob. The ball was heading goalwards though until Luis Lacey made a vital clearance off the line. Seconds later the Moors got in behind again, this time it was Heathcote that was exposed but Dearnley collected the cross come shot at his near post.
Panic over, and that was effectively that. The Silkmen managed a solitary effort in the entire game, and I’m not even sure it constitutes an attempt. Griffiths swung in a free-kick which hit the chest of Fensome and went harmlessly out for a goal kick.
In the latter stages, Spenny hit a couple of long rangers which were high and wide. We could have played until next bank holiday and there would have been no goals between two sides who lacked any kind of spark or urgency. At least we had an excuse.
Tom Clare replaced Danny Elliott at the death and almost fashioned us an opportunity by flying into two 50/50 tackles. The ball broke to Whitehead then Griffiths - both passed the buck to Isaac Buckley-Ricketts (on as sub) whose curling cross couldn’t find a blue shirt to end a painful viewing experience.
Match stats:
Shots on target: Spenny 5, Macc 0
Shots off target: Spenny 4, Macc 1
Corners: Spenny 4, Macc 4
Player ratings:
Dearnley 8 - didn’t have a great deal to do, but did it well. Crucial save just after half time and alert to danger after we got caught by a long ball over the top. Max has earned us our last two points.
Yarney 6 - played right centre back in a new look back three but was guilty of dropping deep and playing Spenny onside when Fensome and Menayese pushed up. Increasingly covered for Lacey out wide in the second half but got beat once which almost led to a chance, however Fensome covered well to avert danger.
Fensome 6.5 - good to see him back in defence which resulted in us gaining our first clean sheet of the season. Made an important covering tackle late on and had our only attempt on goal.
Menayese 6 - diabolical control which prompted him to lunge into a challenge resulting in his sending off. The red card was unbelievably harsh though and he’s now facing a three match ban. Was our best defender prior to that.
Matheson - no rating. Injured after 18 minutes and now joins Brandon Lee on the sidelines.
Lacey 6 - Saved a goal by clearing off the line, but was really poor apart from that. Played midfield, wing back and full-back but his passing was atrocious all over the park. Inaccurate, overhit and rushed.
Griffiths 6.5 - can’t fault his endeavour, can fault his distribution and decision making. For a lad who’s decent on the ball, he makes the most bizarre choices with the ball at his feet at times. Sideways when it needs to go forward, long and wayward when he needs to retain possession.
Etaluku 7.5 - one of the few bright sparks and the only contender for MOM apart from Dearnley. Superb graft, pressed and tackled Spennymoor constantly and had the determination to try and carry the ball forward. We need to find his best position, but he stood up to be counted today.
Duffy 6.5 - fairly quiet and sacrificed for Heathcote as Rooney wisely elected to park the bus. Provided our only ball of quality into the box five minutes before half time, but no Silkmen player got on the end of his right footed centre into the penalty area.
Mellor 6.5 - selfless as always, and dug in like the rest of the team when we went down to 10. We never got to see how potent a Mellor and Elliott partnership might have been because both forwards were starved of service.
Elliott 6 - no change from Moors’ centre halves and no service from his teammates.
Subs:
Whitehead 6 - treated the ball like a hot potato, when we were crying out for him to put his foot on it and show his experience.
Heathcote 6.5 - solid and won multiple headers. Tried to switch play out wide but his long passes were a fraction overhit.
Buckley-Ricketts no rating - just one curled cross come shot in injury time.
Clare 7 - on at the death but deserves a 7 for showing a pair of bollocks. Flew into two 50-50s and won us a dangerous free-kick. If the rest of the team showed the bottle of Clare and Etaluku then who knows what might have been.