MACCLESFIELDéS youth team faced their Chester counterparts at the weekend, narrowly losing a tough contest by the odd goal in three.
Macc took to the field without their injured goalkeeper Matt Cooper, Daniel White, who was absent through illness, and Mike Jeffries, whose progress into the first team squad continues.
Chester took a 2-0 lead early on through Steve Thorpe and Paul McManus but the Macc boys, despite missing important personnel, showed character and determination to pull one back through Nick Blackburn.
The Blues did create a number of chances and enjoyed spells of intense pressure but they were unable to find the equaliser.
However, coach John Askey was pleased with his chargesé efforts, in particular stand-in schoolboy ékeeper Chris Thompson.
Askey said: éIt was a good performance against a strong team.
éWe knew Chester would be a decent side, and so it proved when they knocked Tottenham out of the FA Youth Cup.
éWe still did well and weére creating chances, which is good.é
MACCéS postponed FA Youth Cup match with Everton has been re-arranged for Friday, January 5. The winners of the match will be rewarded with a fourth-round home tie against Millwall.
