MACCLESFIELD manager Keith Alexander cast an envious glance at Notts County’s spending power but was left rueing the three gifts his side presented to the rampant Magpies.

After Ricky Ravenhill scored via deflected shot and Stephen Hunt found space for the second corner running to head home, the Macc manager said he saw enough from his side to give him encouragement for the season.

A Ben Wright own-goal and Craig Westcarr’s late strike completed the scoring, leaving Alexander fuming at his team's defending.

"We gave them the first three goals for balls into our box which you would expect us to deal with," he said after the 4-0 defeat. "We’ve had three defenders in the box who’ve not moved. We played better in the second half but it’s no good starting playing when you're three goals down."

His pre-match programme notes declared that money doesn’t guarantee success in football, but Alexander works with one of the league’s tightest budgets and would no doubt love to have his opposite number Ian McParland’s chequebook.

"I don’t want to go on about the money they’ve got," he added "but if you look at the money they’re spending and the money we’re spending, there is no comparison.

"They’ve got a new director of football in Sven whose wages are probably five times our total budget, so let’s be realistic. Having said that, there is no question that we were beaten by a good team.

"We’ve still got a lot of work to be done and we’re looking forward to doing it."