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Stockport County 2 Macclesfield Town 0

Mike Glendinning
26/ 3/2008

MACCLESFIELD came off worse in a Cheshire derby best forgotten on Friday night.

Goals in the early part of each half from Jason Taylor won Stockport the points in their sixth straight league win.

In-form County were out of the blocks first, Liam Dickinson firing wide while under pressure from Sean Hessey, and Tommy Rowe’s header brought an excellent save out of Jonny Brain.

A County corner on 10 minutes then brought the first goal. Gary Dicker’s shot was blocked but Taylor pounced to fire home the opener from 10 yards.

After half an hour, Macc’s best chance fell to Martin Gritton after a fine cross by Terry Dunfield, but the Scot could only direct his effort straight at John Ruddy.

In the opening minute of the second half, Brain spilled a cross from Dickinson and Taylor was again on hand to double the lead for the Hatters.

Pilkington had a shot blocked by Jamie Tolley and, on the hour mark, Rowe should have wrapped things up but he drove the ball over the bar from eight yards.

Hessey fired a shot in anger to warm the unemployed hands of Ruddy as Stockport dominated and Macc could create little.

Dickinson, Taylor and Raynes narrowly failed to add to the County total and the Silkmen had efforts from substitutes Gareth Evans and Scott Spencer, with varying degrees of inaccuracy, to show for their hard work.

While Macc’s endeavour wasn’t in question, they came up against a talented and in-form Stockport team and were found wanting.

Macc manager Keith Alexander said: "We were up against a very good team.

"We tried to battle, but on the day they were better than us and I don’t mind admitting that."