Coca-Cola League Two
MACCLESFIELDéS abysmal away form continued as they were plunged back into a relegation dogfight after going down to Derek Asamoahés 93rd-minute winner.
The Silkmenés travel sickness continued at a blustery Saunders Honda Stadium against fellow strugglers Chester City, and the Moss Rose outfit have now won just once on the road in the league in more than a year.
Rarely did Macc look like halting that alarming statistic and, although it took until injury time for the home side to seal the three valuable points, no-one could deny there was an air of inevitability about it when it did arrive.
In-form Asamoah was allowed time and space on the edge of the penalty area to bend the winner past Tommy Lee deep into stoppage time. It was the on-loan Lincoln strikerés fifth goal in two games after he had earlier swept Chester into a 50th-minute lead.
Substitute Kevin Townson had handed the visitors a lifeline when he bundled home a superb Matthew McNeil - the Silkmenés outstanding player once again - cross to equalise on 74 minutes.
That was Townsonés first league goal since August, and only his fourth of the season, but Macclesfield certainly looked a better, and more balanced, side following his introduction on the hour mark for the ineffectual David Morley, whose use as a makeshift striker should surely now be limited to the final 10 minutes of a game.
Without the injured Martin Bullock and Marcus Richardson, who was unable to play against his former club because of a clause in his contract, the Silkmen looked devoid of ideas up front and were fortunate not to be behind at half-time. Lee saved well from the Asamoah as early as the ninth minute, and the dangerous Asamoah, Jake Edwards and Stuart Drummond all went close before the break.
With the wind behind them, Macc started the second period the brighter and Kevin Sandwith wasted two glorious chances, the first following an exquisite piece of skill from McNeil. But Asamoah proved less profligate when Gregg Blundell cushioned Dave Artellés cross into his path and he opened the scoring.
Brian Horton hauled Morley off and Townson immediately signalled his intent when he volleyed over Kevin McIntyreés cross on 67 minutes. Seven minutes later the hitman did have the ball in the net after excellent work from McNeil down the left. However, just as the Silkmen looked to be heading for a vital point, Asamoah struck to seal Chesterés second win in four days. What Brian Horton made of it is anyoneés guess, the Silkmen boss once again refused to talk to the press after the game. Indeed, a post-match interview with the manager is in danger of becoming as rare as a Macclesfield away win.
CHESTER: MacKenzie, McNiven, Albrighton, Artell, Regan, Drummond, Davies, Hessey, Asamoah, Edwards, Blundell (Rutherford 80). Subs (not used): Harrison, Vaughan, Dimech, Tait, Rutherford. Booked: Davies, Asamoah.
MACCLESFIELD: Lee, Sandwith, Morley (Townson 60), Swailes, Harsley, Whitaker, McIntyre, Teague, Brightwell, Navarro, McNeil. Subs (not used): Fettis, Miles, Briscoe, Smart. Booked: McIntyre, McNeil, Townson. Star man: Matthew McNeil.
Referee: D. Drysdale.
Attendance: 2,939.
