The unperfect storm: magnificent Macc denied by Alty

The Silkmen lose on penalties after Dawson’s red mist

‘Victory in defeat’ - a tired cliche, often spouted to mask the truth and paper over the cracks. Not yesterday. True, Macclesfield may have lost on penalties to bitter rivals Altrincham in the FA Trophy, but undeniably the Silkmen were the moral winners. And even the most stubborn, short-sighted Altrincham supporter in the 3,032 crowd knew it.

The ten-men Silkmen produced a heroic performance against a team two divisions higher, who had recently demolished National League front-runners York City 3-0 on their own patch. On the coldest of December days in recent memory, the size of the task awaiting Macc was immense. But the players and coaching staff rose to the occasion magnificently, taking on Storm Darragh and Alty in immensely challenging conditions.

Ironically, it wasn’t the howling wind and driving rain of Darragh which hindered Macc, nor was it the superior pedigree (on paper) of Altrincham’s team. It was, in fact, the red mist of captain Paul Dawson who dealt the biggest blow to the Silkmen’s chances of prevailing in adversity. Dawson’s sending off following a melee in the centre of the park left Macc playing with ten men for over an hour, and in doing so, turned a cup tie that the away side were dominating on its head.

The red mist of Dawson

The incident happened in a blur. A rash challenge on halfway by the otherwise excellent James Edmondson was the trigger. Tempers frayed as players squared up to each other, and seconds later an Altrincham man lay stricken on the pitch as if he had been struck by a bolt of lightning. The ‘culprit’, who else, was deemed to be Paul Dawson, who was shown a straight red card by the referee for apparently raising his hands.

I don’t doubt that the Alty player deliberately duped the official which made Dawson’s dismissal a formality. You can’t raise your hands in the modern game. End of. And you certainly can’t do it when you’re the captain of a side playing against your local rivals when your teammates are already up against it.

In his defence, Dawson was quick to apologise on social media afterwards for his rush of blood. And, perhaps understandably, there has been an outpouring of sympathy for our captain fantastic. Daws IS a fantastic player, he IS immensely talented, and we ARE lucky to have him. But, I’m sorry, at times the lad displays the brains of a rocking horse, and if he doesn’t curb his temper it might cost him his career playing at a higher level. He let himself down, as well as us, yesterday.

Damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t. But to me, the swiftness of Dawson’s apology appeared somewhat hollow, issued by someone who felt he should say sorry rather than understanding the bigger picture which led to it and the magnitude of the occasion. This wasn’t just any other game - you only have to look at Altrincham’s celebrations afterwards as if they’d won the FA Cup to know that.

Sorry Daws, but sorry doesn’t cut it. Try saying it to the 1,032 Silkmen fans who stood shivering behind the goal, piss wet-through, chilled to the bone in temperatures which, according to the Met Office, were more like -5. I’m still cold now.

Life’s about choices. Over a third of Macc’s fan base (based on average attendances this season) made the decision to attend the game and back their club yesterday. Dawson had the same choice to make when getting involved in a battle which he wasn’t initially part of. Had he kept his discipline who knows what would have happened? Almost certainly, Dawson would have taken a penalty as he did successfully against Curzon. Not that I’m suggesting we lost on penalties due to Daw’s absence.

One hopes that yesterday will prove to be a watershed moment for a player that has been an easy target for referees throughout his career at Lancaster and Bamber Bridge. Last season for Macc Dawson received 19 yellow cards. So far this campaign, he’s racked up 8 bookings to go with his now straight red against Alty.

Warriors in defeat

Enough of Dawson’s brushes with the footballing law, I’m detracting from the superb efforts of Robbie Savage’s other warriors.

Savage has seemingly learned from the Silkmen’s, at times, cavalier approach away from home and set the team up in a more sturdy 4-2-3-1 formation. The only slight surprise was that Alex Curran got the nod in the ‘number 10’ position, with D’Mani Mellor starting on the right of midfield with Justin Johnson on the bench.

Macc began on the front front and it was the outstanding Neil Kengni in particular who got forward down the left and defended resolutely against Altrincham’s advances. In midfield, Edmondson, Rooney and Duffy were dictating play confidently, looking every inch like National League players. Undoubtedly, Macc were the better side and almost took the lead when Danny Elliott’s snap-shot was well parried by Ross in the Alty goal.

I’m labouring the point admittedly, but the sending off genuinely changed everything. Savage sacrificed Alex Curran for Lewis Fensome who came on to partner Laurent Mendy in central defence. Both Lewis and Laurent were fantastic - determined, disciplined and resolute in the face of adversity. A special mention too for Tre Pemberton who delivered a monumental performance, covering every inch of the right touchline with passion and distinction. What an effort, Tre.

Macc were down to ten men, but they didn’t play like they had ten men, if that makes sense?

This wasn’t a backs-to-the-wall performance. The Silkmen didn’t go hiding - they puffed their chests out and bit down on their gumshields to keep fighting. It is for that reason alone that Savage and our supporters can be immensely proud of them.

Alty forced a succession of corners on the hour mark, but Macc stuck to their task, marshalled by the excellent Max Dearnley in goal. After that, Savage’s men regained control and looked lively when Eliott was withdrawn for Johnson, with the tireless D’Mani Mellor playing up top in the central striking position. D’Mani played in three separate positions yesterday and never stopped running, harrying and chasing Alty’s defences in a lung-bursting display.

Macc got lucky at the death when the home side’s shot was deflected onto the bar in the final minute of open play. But it was fortune that we deserved, and in actual fact, it was Dearnley’s superb reactionary save which turned the ball onto the woodwork.

Silkmen fans must have been quietly confident when the tie went to penalties, fresh off their spot-kick triumph over Curzon in the previous round of the FA Trophy. But taking penalties at the home end of the crowd, where Alty supporters shined the light of their phones to put Macc’s takers off , it wasn’t to be.

Danny Whitehead’s pen was a ‘good’ save rather than a ‘bad’ miss. And while Duffy and Mellor duly converted their penalties, Justin Johnson’s spot-kick struck the bar, which summed up JJ’s wretched afternoon as sadly he struggled to do anything right when coming off the bench.

So, a defeat, and a bitter one to take under the circumstances. But rather than dwelling on what could have been, let’s look ahead to a glorious future. 12 points clear at the top of the Northern Premier League having just gone toe-to-toe with play-off contenders in the National League. The last team to lose in the league in all seven tiers of English football, playing teams off the park most weeks.

And the best is still to come. Life feels pretty good as a Silkmen supporter right now.