A catalogue of stars joined friends and family of the Macclesfield Town manager at a packed funeral service in Lincoln cathedral.

Their ‘lucky 13th’ successive league win perhaps did not reflect the effort that Ionians put in throughout.

Dagenham host Macc on Saturday and they will be harbouring hopes of making a late charge for the play-offs.

In their first home game since the death of their manager, Macc shocked their visitors with a fine battling performance to dent the Shakers' promotion hopes.

The Hound welcomed back several key players missing from last weekend’s defeat to Macc Boys Seniors. Back into defence came Matty Roberts, with Gareth Gibbons forming a familiar strike partnership with Dec Fletcher up front.

Varey, aged 13, lost out in the 63kg final of the competition to William Lee of Stevenage ABC.

More than 200 children from 15 local primary schools competed in a huge event at Macclesfield Leisure Centre.

Keith Alexander died just hours after a defeat at one of his former teams, Notts County. Those who knew him during his time at Meadow Lane, and at each and every one of his other past clubs, will remember Keith as a thoroughly decent bloke, and charming company, whether his side had won or lost.

Perhaps fittingly, a former club of Keith’s visit the Silkmen on what will be another heart-wrenching occasion. Many of the current Bury players will have been at the club during his stint as director of football and manager Alan Knill spoke in glowing terms of his rival manager last week.

The victory came at a cost though, as Rob McDermott and Sam Moss are facing spells out of the game after receiving injuries during the game. However, a plus point did come from the display by replacement Fergus Mulchrone, in his first senior outing of the season following injury last season. He showed that he’s lost none of his instinct for the line.

Cheadle were one up early on but failed to capitalise on the dominance. Wilmslow hit back four times before Cheadle scored again.

Through go Wilmslow Sports, Poynton Nomads and holders Boarhound, the only casualty being Poynton, who were well beaten by Curshaws at Back Lane.

An emotionally charged encounter saw Macc take the points with goals from Ricky Sappleton and Emile Sinclair.

In an even tie the sides couldn’t be separated over 90 minutes, with Matt Ainsworth scoring for Vale and Elliot Bruce on target for the visitors from the First Division.

Macc’s rotten luck continued on Saturday as Nat Brown’s own goal handed Rochdale the victory, but Alexander still has high hopes for a young squad with huge potential.

On-loan Butcher scored his second for the Silkmen in the 57th minute with a curler that dipped into the top corner.

The crucial points came when the visiting Lions were down to 14 men after two successive binnings gave the Blues opportunities that they did not turn down.

Andy Foote scored twice and James Day made it 3-0 before Eddie Roberts hit a consolation for the visitors with quarter of an hour remaining.

As one of the only blind runners in the UK with any kind of funding, Libby knows that better than most.

The younger brother of Manchester United and England star Wayne has this week been training at Championship club Derby County.

On loan from Lincoln, Butcher scored his first goal for the club in the 57th minute with a 22-yard curling drive that dipped perfectly into the top corner.

Alexander was sent to the stands for his furious protests at the Cherries’ leveller five minutes from time, but slammed the official’s decision as ludicrous.

Alexander was banished to the stands after remonstrating with fourth official Simon Knapp and then Horwood following Alan Connell’s disputed leveller five minutes from time.

League leaders Rochdale come to town on Saturday, with Keith Hill’s free-scoring side aiming to maintain their charge to the title.

Twenty-year-old Kompany, who plays on the left side of defence or midfield, has been training with Keith Alexander’s squad for the past few months, and has signed up until the end of the season.

The Blues’ latest victory means that Bradford’s Bees have a seriously uphill struggle if they are to retain their League Two North status next season.

Macc tried to find the form that had served them well in recent weeks but Deeside pressed them back in their own half.

Poynton came into the game full of confidence and took the early initiative without managing a goal.

Dendy couldn’t cope with AZ’s neat passing game and went behind early to Jason Blythe’s glancing header from Jimmy Baskerville’s free-kick.

The Macc Town boss missed his side’s goalless draw with Accrington Stanley on Saturday after a course of tablets – meant to put an end to a 10-day bout of hiccups – caused an allergic reaction.

Bournemouth got off to a great start this season and led the league throughout September and October but were overtaken by the Dale at the start of December.

They remain in contention alongside Loughborough and Caldy with this leading pack now 16 points clear of fourth-placed Fylde.

Club AZ showed no mercy against Wilmslow Albion as they scored five times in the first half on the way to a 7-0 victory. Craig Scott and Neil O’Brian both scored twice with Omar Lamptey, Joel Hunter and Lee Malkin also netting.

Goals from Tim Hammond, Fran Oliver and Mark Cundliffe won the game for the visitors to leave the Ox-fford wondering what might have been.

Fifteen bouts took place at Wilmslow Leisure Centre, and the Macc fighters put on a fine show for a bumper crowd.

The in-form Blues scored 50 points for the third successive game against an injury-hit Harrogate who competed throughout.

Captain Macey kicked two penalties to put Macclesfield ahead but ill-discipline cost Macc as a penalty gave their hosts a foothold.

Boarhound deservedly took the lead when Gareth Gibbons found himself in acres of space in the penalty area and calmly side-footed home.

After the two-month winter break from league hockey this was a vital game and Poynton got off to the best of starts when Jane Ambler converted their first short corner after just four minutes.

Sappleton, who came to the club on a loan deal from Leicester City in August, has hit six goals for Keith Alexander’s men, the latest an excellent strike to rescue a point in Macc’s last game against Morecambe.

The Rams youngster, who can play on the either flank, has made two substitute appearances for Derby this season and joins the Silkmen on an initial month’s loan.

The Boxing Day fixture saw Macc take a 2-1 lead in first-half injury time but Dave Hibbert’s late equaliser rescued a point for the Shrews, who have since climbed into the play-off spots, despite a defeat to Accrington in their last outing.

Less than 10 minutes from time, the powerhouse hitman neatly controlled the ball before taking aim and unleashing a stunning volley, his sixth goal for the club.

Colin Askey, himself an FA Cup semi-finalist with Port Vale, contacted the Express in response to Andy Scott’s concerns that a lack of local support could lead to serious financial difficulties for the Silkmen.

In doing so they crept closer to leaders Loughborough Students, who took a day off due to members of their squad taking a trip to Portugal with the England Students.

The cup clashes between Boarhound and Lostock reserves, Malpas and Old Alts Youth, and Poynton Kings and Poynton all fell foul of frozen pitches, as did the league game between Juno United and High Lane.

The former Moss Rose terrace hero, who made his debut as a Macc player more than a quarter of a century ago, couldn’t disguise his despair at last week’s meagre crowd – just 1,035 came through the turnstiles for the first game of 2010, a 2-0 defeat to Northampton.