Coca-Cola League Two

BRIAN Horton did not know who to blame most after the final whistle - the referee or his defenders.

The Silkmen boss was furious that another below-par defensive display helped slick Northampton inflict the first home defeat on Macc this season.

And the only thing which annoyed Horton more than his players, was ref Steve Dorr.

“We get punished for talking about referees, but I thought he was shocking,” said the manager.

“If that was a foul leading up to the penalty then I might as well pack the game in. Then [Sean] Dyche has gone through the back of one of our players for the third goal and he doesn’t give it.

“He’s a first year referee but he’s not good enough in my opinion - but neither is our defending.”

Martin Bullock had handed the hosts’ a 61st-minute lifeline when he made it 2-1, but more calamitous defending put pay to any hopes of a Macc fightback.

Alan Fettis parried Josh Low’s drive but, rather than clearing, David Morley dawdled on the ball only for Scott McGleish to dispossess the Silkmen captain and fire into an empty net from six yards. 

Horton added: “Fettis has made a great save and all Dave Morley has to do is clear it, but he’s tried to dribble it out from there - it’s pathetic defending.

“It’s the story of our season so far. At 2-1 we’re well in the game and their keeper has made a tremendous save, but we can’t keep giving goals away like that.”

Concentration appears to be the problem for the Silkmen at the moment and they were guilty of switching off for Northampton’s opener on the stroke of half-time.

A quickly-taken free-kick fell to McGleish in the penalty area, but the striker was sent tumbling by Swailes. The Cobblers man drilled home the spot-kick himself.

The visitors were further in front within six minutes of the restart when McGleish was allowed to reach the edge of the area before setting up Ian Taylor for their second.

The Silkmen responded well and Bullock crashed home an unstoppable drive to put them back in with a chance.      

Substitute Kevin Townson came closest to an equaliser but he was brilliantly denied by goalkeeper Lee Harper.

But sloppy defending allowed McGleish to grab his second on 79 minutes before Josh Low sealed Macclesfield’s fate with an injury-time fourth.

MACCLESFIELD TOWN: Fettis, Sandwith, Morley, Swailes, Bullock, Harsley, Miles, Whitaker, McIntyre (Townson, 54), Barras, Briscoe. Subs (not used): Beresford, Deasy, Smart, Brightwell. Star man: Martin Bullock.

NORTHAMPTON TOWN: Harper, Crowe, Chambers, Taylor, McGleish (Gilligan, 88), Jess (Doig, 86), Hunt, Rowson, Dyche, Johnson, Mikolanda (Low, 76). Subs (not used): Bunn, Galbraith.

Referee: Steve Dorr.

Attendance: 2,014.