Coca-Cola League Two
MAGNIFICENT Macclesfield romped to their biggest ever League victory in their first-ever League meeting with basement club Stockport County in a Boxing Day massacre.
The sizzling Silkmen turned on the style as they ran riot against a woeful County to hand Town supporters the best Christmas present they could have hoped for.
With Macc fighting for survival off the pitch, this was the perfect tonic for everyone associated with the club, not least for manager Brian Horton who saw his side end a run of four consecutive draws.
Stockport’s cause was not helped by the 17th-minute dismissal of Tes Bramble for a terrible over-the-ball lunge at Danny Swailes - forcing the defender to be stretchered from the field - but the manner in which Macc put their rivals to the sword was exhilarating.
Clyde Wijnhard started the onslaught when he turned in Jon Parkin’s header on the goalline from Kevin McIntyre’s cross on 41 minutes. Parkin doubled the hosts’ advantage three minutes later when he took Paul Harsley’s diagonal ball superbly on his chest before firing past Spencer.
It could have been three in first-half injury time when Danny Whitaker was up-ended by James Spencer in the penalty area, but the goalkeeper redeemed himself by saving Harsley’s spot-kick.
Jermaine Easter wasted a great opportunity to pull a goal back two minutes after the restart before a rampant Town, inspired by the brilliant Martin Bullock, took control with three goals in five minutes.
Wijnhard, Andrew Teague and Bullock all went close before the latter cut through the County defence, exchanged passes with Wijnhard and slotted home. Macc were playing some glorious football and, after another sweeping move involving Wijnhard, Bullock and Harsley, the dangerous Parkin grabbed his second two minutes later.
With County in complete disarray, Wijnhard prodded home McIntyre’s inviting cross and substitute John Miles completed the rout when he struck his first goal of the season after McIntyre’s effort came back off the post.
MACCLESFIELD: Fettis, Sandwith, Morley, Harsley, Parkin, Whitaker (Miles 70), McIntyre, Bullock, Navarro, Wijnhard (Townson 70), Swailes (Teague 19). Subs (not used): Deasy, Smart. Star man: Martin Bullock.
STOCKPORT COUNTY: Spencer, Raynes, Greenwood, Clare, Hamshaw, Boshell, Singh, Robinson (Crowe 45), Bramble, Easter, Briggs. Subs (not used): Ikeme, Malcom, Dje, Allen
Referee: D.Deadman.
Attendance: 4,553.
