A depressingly abject performance from the Bulls handed Macclesfield three points at Edgar Street this afternoon. With Kenny Lunt not featuring, and James McQuilkin suspended, John Trewick started with Sam Gwynne and Jamie Tolley restored to midfield duties. Very little was created by the home side, and a mediocre Macclesfield outfit fully deserved an emotional victory, dedicated to the memory of Keith Alexander, who sadly passed away after their midweek fixture at Notts County.
The visitors threw shirts to their fans as a tribute to their former “Gaffer” before play began. Gavin McCallum tested Jon Brain in the first minute, and Hereford then forced a number of free kicks. On each occasion, either a poor delivery or an underhit cross meant that the Town defence were not troubled. Tolley almost chested the ball into the path of McCallum, whose willingness to chase and harry opponents was in contrast to the laconic demeanour of his team mates. After one such set piece, Gwynne and Ryan Green somehow contrived to give the ball away and a breakaway goal was a real possibility. McCallum put Edrissa Sonko through, but the shot was wide of the mark, and he then combined well with Leon Constantine and Marc Pugh, but the move broke down with an overhit cross from Ryan Valentine, overlapping down the left.
At the other end, a lack of confidence and understanding in the Bulls defence was a cause for concern. When the muscular Reneil “Ricky” Sappleton picked the ball up on the flank after 16 minutes, there seemed little danger. However, Hereford backed off and allowed him to release a terrific shot from outside the corner of the area which curled beyond the grasping fingers of Adam Bartlett and in at the far corner. Bartlett was then called on to make saves from the lively Emile Sinclair and a scrambling effort from a Ross Draper cross. The Bulls seemed pedestrian at the back, and one or two of their promising attacks were spoilt by being caught offside. The interval duly arrived with little to cheer, and the visitors retaining their narrow lead.
HT: HUFC 0 MACCLESFIELD TOWN 1
Such was the lack of excitement generated after the break that the visit of a lone seagull to the Blackfriars End, and its reluctance to leave the field of play became a source of fascination. Just as Jonathan Livingston settled once more, the Bulls needlessly, and by no means for the first time, gave the ball away in midfield. Ross Draper, the initial beneficiary, passed to Emile Sinclair who embarked on the trip to the home goal. Obligingly, the defenders backed off, failed to make any meaningful challenge, and Sinclair walked the ball in. 62 minutes gone, and “game over”.
Worryingly, little commitment was shown and the remaining minutes only served as the countdown to an inevitable defeat. Supporters voiced their disenchantment, and players gave little source of encouragement. McCallum continued to try hard, but pumping high balls to the diminutive striker was one of a number of tactical curiosities. Constantine’s flicks did not pay off today, and he seemed slow to react when substitute Lee Morris tried to create a chance. Fellow sub Craig King did find Pugh, but his attempt to cross lacked accuracy.
Macclesfield held on with some comfort, and celebrated with their fans at the final whistle. Some kind of silk purse had been fashioned from a real “sows ear” performance from the Bulls.
FT: HUFC 0 MACCLESFIELD 2
HUFC: Bartlett, Valentine, Rose (Morris 81), Preston, Green, Pugh, Tolley (King 64), Gwynne, Sonko, McCallum, Constantine.
MACC: Brain, Hessey, Brown, Morgan, Brisley, Bell, Draper, Daniel (Bolland 77), Butcher, Sinclair, Sappleton (Wright 77).
Attendance 1919 (including 211 Cheshire cats.)
The visitors threw shirts to their fans as a tribute to their former “Gaffer” before play began. Gavin McCallum tested Jon Brain in the first minute, and Hereford then forced a number of free kicks. On each occasion, either a poor delivery or an underhit cross meant that the Town defence were not troubled. Tolley almost chested the ball into the path of McCallum, whose willingness to chase and harry opponents was in contrast to the laconic demeanour of his team mates. After one such set piece, Gwynne and Ryan Green somehow contrived to give the ball away and a breakaway goal was a real possibility. McCallum put Edrissa Sonko through, but the shot was wide of the mark, and he then combined well with Leon Constantine and Marc Pugh, but the move broke down with an overhit cross from Ryan Valentine, overlapping down the left.
At the other end, a lack of confidence and understanding in the Bulls defence was a cause for concern. When the muscular Reneil “Ricky” Sappleton picked the ball up on the flank after 16 minutes, there seemed little danger. However, Hereford backed off and allowed him to release a terrific shot from outside the corner of the area which curled beyond the grasping fingers of Adam Bartlett and in at the far corner. Bartlett was then called on to make saves from the lively Emile Sinclair and a scrambling effort from a Ross Draper cross. The Bulls seemed pedestrian at the back, and one or two of their promising attacks were spoilt by being caught offside. The interval duly arrived with little to cheer, and the visitors retaining their narrow lead.
HT: HUFC 0 MACCLESFIELD TOWN 1
Such was the lack of excitement generated after the break that the visit of a lone seagull to the Blackfriars End, and its reluctance to leave the field of play became a source of fascination. Just as Jonathan Livingston settled once more, the Bulls needlessly, and by no means for the first time, gave the ball away in midfield. Ross Draper, the initial beneficiary, passed to Emile Sinclair who embarked on the trip to the home goal. Obligingly, the defenders backed off, failed to make any meaningful challenge, and Sinclair walked the ball in. 62 minutes gone, and “game over”.
Worryingly, little commitment was shown and the remaining minutes only served as the countdown to an inevitable defeat. Supporters voiced their disenchantment, and players gave little source of encouragement. McCallum continued to try hard, but pumping high balls to the diminutive striker was one of a number of tactical curiosities. Constantine’s flicks did not pay off today, and he seemed slow to react when substitute Lee Morris tried to create a chance. Fellow sub Craig King did find Pugh, but his attempt to cross lacked accuracy.
Macclesfield held on with some comfort, and celebrated with their fans at the final whistle. Some kind of silk purse had been fashioned from a real “sows ear” performance from the Bulls.
FT: HUFC 0 MACCLESFIELD 2
HUFC: Bartlett, Valentine, Rose (Morris 81), Preston, Green, Pugh, Tolley (King 64), Gwynne, Sonko, McCallum, Constantine.
MACC: Brain, Hessey, Brown, Morgan, Brisley, Bell, Draper, Daniel (Bolland 77), Butcher, Sinclair, Sappleton (Wright 77).
Attendance 1919 (including 211 Cheshire cats.)