Browse Sections
Interactive
Popular Sections
Snow and rain lateSport
| 
Submit Comments
HALTED - Clayton McDonald’s impressive league debut was cut short by injury in the second half at Accrington Stanley. Picture by Anthony Pooler
Accrington Stanley 2 Macclesfield Town 0
Mike Glendinning27/ 8/2008
MACC came away from Accrington with no points and no goals in a barren league campaign’s most disappointing performance yet.
Keith Alexander watched in fury as his side folded meekly, losing to two second-half goals without reply.
The Macc manager will have been incensed at the startling amount of space Paul Mullin and James Ryan were allowed for Stanley's goals, after the visitors had achieved parity at half-time.
Alexander started Izak Reid in place of the rested Shaun Brisley, while Richard Walker dropped to the bench to make way for Manchester City loan defender Clayton McDonald.
McDonald came closest to opening the scoring in the first 10 minutes, but the 19-year-old’s towering header and sharp left-foot volley from Ahmed Deen’s corners each cleared the crossbar.
At the half-hour mark, after Lee Bell’s through-ball, Martin Gritton neatly lobbed Kenny Arthur but he was denied Macc’s first goal by the linesman’s flag.
Accrington’s best chance of an industrious but unentertaining first half fell to Ryan 10 minutes before the break but Paul Morgan made a vital block and the half ended goalless.
Five minutes after the restart, Paul Mullin decided against using the acres of space he found at former Silkman John Miles’ corner, electing instead to volley home first time for the opening goal.
The Silkmen’s inability to clear their lines almost led to Mullin doubling the lead but he shot narrowly wide.
Jon Brain pulled off a sharp stop to tip away Ryan’s fizzing shot from a tight angle, but the keeper found himself unsighted when the same man hit through a crowd of players, including strike pairing Mullin and Jamie Clarke.
The Macc players’ protests that both Accy men were offside went unheeded by referee Keith Woolmer and Accrington were two up.
Clarke and Mullin were off-target as the now-rampant Stanley threatened to run riot.
Alexander replaced Sean Hessey with Francis Green and it was Green’s strength and determination that bustled Phil Edwards off the ball and set up Gritton for a snap-shot that beat Arthur but also cleared the bar.
Gritton turned provider when he beat Colin Murdock and put a fine ball into Gareth Evans’ path, but the young striker was blocked at close range.
In the closing stages, Evans also hit wide from Danny Thomas’ cross and Gritton had a header cleared off the line, captain Peter Cavanagh preserving Stanley’s clean sheet.
Most recent 1 of 1 user comments
Got an opinion you want to share?| Card | BT Fee |
| Virgin Credit Card | 2.98% |
| Capital One Low Rate Balance Transfer | 1.7% |
| Capital One Low Rate Platinum | HASH(0x2b601b14a120) |
| Capital One Fixed Rate Card | 0.0% |
| Company | Typical APR |
| Platinum Exclusive Loan | 7.8% |
| Bank of Scotland (Semi-exclusive) | 8.6% |
| Halifax (Semi-exclusive) | 8.6% |
| Alliance & Leicester | 8.7% |
| Lloyds TSB | 8.9% |
| Provider | AER* |
|
ICICI BANK HiSAVE Savings Account |
5.50% |
|
PRINCIPALITY BS e-SAVER |
5.35% |
|
ANGLO IRISH BANK Easy Access Account Issue 2 |
5.25% |
|
FIRST DIRECT Everyday e-Saver |
2.75% |
|
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER Online Tracker |
4.75% |
|
BRADFORD & BINGLEY eSavings 6 |
4.60% |
|
SAINSBURYS FINANCE Internet Saver |
4.00% |
|
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER eSaver - Issue 2 |
5.00% |
|
POST OFFICE Instant Saver |
3.75% |
26/08/2008 at 13:31