Browse Sections

• Macclesfield Town FC
• Local football
• Local cricket
• Golf

Powell shoots down Moss' men

27/ 2/2001

SOCCER: Macclesfield 0 Oxford United 1

Paul Powell's deflected winner ended Macclesfield's three-match winning run last night (Tuesday).

Powell's first half goal was enough despite a second-half onslaught from the Silkmen.

Defences dominated in the first half as both teams played five across the back.

Paul O'Neill came in for the suspended Dave Ridler to make his first start since returning from a loan spell with Peter Davenport's Bangor City.

But the 20-year-old had little to do as Macc dominated.

In the eighth minute, Matt Tipton collected the ball on the edge of the box and turned neatly before firing a left-foot shot which was well saved low to his right by Andy Woodman.

Oxford gradually came into the game and Powell put them ahead in the 23rd minute.

He skipped past two defenders on the left edge of the box before his drive flicked off Darren Tinson's shin, over Steve Wilson and in.

David Moss brought on Lee Glover for O'Neill after the break and switched to a more attacking 4-4-2 formation.

And it almost paid dividends in the 48th minute. Tipton burst into the box and fired a low drive across goal but Glover failed to connect.

Two minutes later, Woodman pulled off the save of the game when he tipped Tipton's angled drive over the bar.

Tipton then saw a further long-range effort flash just wide on the hour.

Then David Smith hit the post after Kyle Lightbourne's left-wing cross had fallen to him eight yards out.

And Macc twice went close in stoppage time, as Macauley's header was cleared off the line by Sam Stockley, and Lambert's 25-yard volley smacked the bar. But Oxford somehow held on.