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It’s honours even

Mike Glendinning
26/ 9/2007

Coca-Cola League Two
Rochdale ..............1
Macc Town ..........1

MACCLESFIELD earned their sixth away point of the season in a rough-and-tumble battle at Spotland.

Kevin McIntyre’s 20-minute penalty cancelled out Jimmy McNulty’s blunder that, five minutes earlier, had given Rochdale the advantage.

McNulty has been outstanding in recent weeks in the centre of Ian Brightwell’s back-line, but this was an outing he would sooner forget.

He had Tommy Lee to thank when, two minutes in, he was caught in possession by Chris Dagnall. Dagnall squared the ball to Glenn Murray in space but Lee made a fine block when the Dale striker looked odds-on to score.

Luke Dimech was also called upon to clear off the line as Dale put Macc under early pressure, which told after a quickly-taken free-kick.

Dagnall set Adam Rundle down the left flank and his low cross was turned in at the near post by McNulty.

Although the Silkmen had hardly troubled the Dale goal, they were gifted a penalty by Guy Branston. With no apparent danger, the big defender bundled Martin Gritton over. After Branston’s furious protests to referee Andy Haines had proved fruitless, McIntyre stepped up to resume normal spot-kick service, drilling it into the corner of James Spencer’s goal.

Dale thought they had restored their lead shortly before half-time but Lee clawed away Murray’s header as the striker claimed that the ball crossed the line.

Gritton almost gave Macc the lead, latching onto Franny Green’s shot, but the big Scot couldn’t force the ball home and the half ended at 1-1.

The hosts dominated after the break, with Adam Le Fondre and Murray both spurning good chances but, as the game drew toward a close, Macc could have snatched all three points.

Terry Dunfield combined with Green and Danny Thomas before sending his shot wide of the goal.

Gritton knocked down Thomas’ ball in and Green’s shot was blocked by Spencer and both teams had to settle for the draw.