MACCLESFIELD may have lost to a team 90 places above them in the leagues, but the Silkmen can hold their heads high after a battling display.

The 6-1 scoreline tells only half a tale, as Macc played out the final 15 minutes with eight outfield players and a stand-in goalkeeper.

The visitors matched Chelsea during an entertaining first half, although they went behind to a Frank Lampard goal.

The finest moment of a so-far turbulent season came in the 40th minute, John Murphy latching onto a Matty McNeil flick. As Ricado Carvalho fluffed his clearance, the loan striker powered a strong finish through the legs of Chelsea 'keeper Hilario.

The fervent celebrations of the 5,000 travelling fans had barely died down when Frank Lampard restored Chelsea's advantage, pouncing onto Alan Navarro's poor touch and beating Tommy Lee from the edge of the box.

As the half-time whistle blew, Paul Ince's team were a goal behind but still in with an outside chance of causing a major upset.

The Macc hopes died shortly after the break.

Andriy Shevchenko was sent through by Shaun Wright-Phillips and, with only Lee to beat, stumbled into the advancing 'keeper. Although there was definite contact, it was the Ukraine striker that did all he could to win the spot-kick, even feigning injury to erase any doubt in referee Lee Mason's mind.

As Lee received treatment for the knock he received in the incident, Mr Mason showed him a red card and Dave Morley was forced to don the gloves. The skipper's first task was to pick the ball out of the net after Lampard completed his hat-trick.

The ten Silkmen refused to roll over though, and held out until the 68th minute when Wright-Phillips nipped in to prod home a Lampard cross.

Macc finished the game with just nine men. Ince had used his three substitutes before John Miles had to leave the field through injury.

As expected, Chelsea were home and dry at this point, although the goals scored by John Obi Mikel and Carvalho made for a scoreline that does no justice to the efforts of Macclesfield.

Tell us what you thought of the Silkmen's performance, and your day out at Stamford Bridge. E-mail us at maccsport@gmwn.co.uk