SILKMEN TROUNCE THE IMPS

Macclesfield Town trounced Lincoln City to a 3 – 1 defeat last night at the Moss.

City took the lead just before half-time through a brilliant long-range effort from Ben Tomlinson.

However, the Silkmen ran rampant in the second half. They equalised through Scott Boden on the hour mark, before two goals in two minutes ended the game as a competition.

First Jack Mackreath struck from just inside the box on 79 minutes and then second-half substitute Chris Holroyd produced a sublime solo effort to wrap up all the points on 81 minutes.

The Imps were looking second best in the opening stages of the game, but they hauled themselves back into the game as the half wore on.

They finally broke the deadlock on 44 minutes when Ben Tomlinson unleashed a stinging effort from 25 yards.

Macclesfield made the early running in the game, forcing two good chances down the left.

It was on six minutes when they really threatened with Peter Winn heading wide at the far post after out jumping Tom Miller.

City looked off the pace as Macclesfield continued to dominate. The hosts looked comfortable on the ball, with their passes connecting.

In stark contrast, City could not keep hold of the possession. Their best move came on 23 minutes when Nolan picked out Dixon with a great pass. The midfielder charged foward and sent the ball down the right for Tomlinson, the forward got there, but his cross went wide and high into the empty terrace behind the goal.

City had to take their opportunites from corners, and on 26 minutes the ball fell to Mitch Austin whose drilled effort was parried behind by Rhys Taylor in the Macclesfield goal.

Lincoln were not as fluid as Macclesfield, but some gritty determination saw them push into their half again.

On 31 minutes they went close to taking the lead. Nolan was brought down 35 yards out and Sean Newton stepped up to smash a drilled effort at pace that had beaten Taylor, but rattled off the cross bar.

City started to look dangerous going forward, with Austin and Sam-Yorke the main outlets.

However, they were still getting caught on the counter attack by Macclesfield and Farman had to be at his best to get down low to his left-hand side and push Danny Whitaker`s effort round the post on 42 minutes.

While Macclesfield looked like the side to open the lead it was an effort from Tomlinson on 44 minutes which saw City break the deadlock.

Nolan first tried an effort on the edge of the area, his stinging shot was blocked, but it fell to Tomlinson on the left-hand corner of the box. He took the ball on the volley and blasted it past the stranded Taylor.

At half-time Dixon was replaced by Danny Rowe as City went out to try and hold on to their lead.

The Imps defence was given an early test within the first two minutes of the second half. Macclesfield were banging on the door as a scramble in the area had City desperately trying to clear their lines as Boden, Whitaker, Winn and Williams all had efforts stopped, blocked or denied.

Lincoln looked to have clamed the game down, but Macclesfield managed to pull the game level on the hour mark.

A slip from Luke Foster allowed Boden in and he just lifted the ball past Farman`s left-hand side.

On 70 minutes Macclesfield threatened to double their lead when Turnbull made the most of some sloppy passing by Lincoln. The Macclesfield skipper broke into the box and forced Farman into a good save at his left-hand post.

Macclesfield kept up the pressure and it paid off on the 78 minute. The ball was slipped out to Jack Mackreath just in the left-hand side of the Imps box and he shot across Farman and into the opposite corner of the net.

Lincoln were reeling and moments later the game was beyond their reach.

Substitute Chris Holroyd picked up the ball just past half way, raced forward, past the stationary Nat Brown and unleashed a blockbuster into the top of Farman`s net.

Source: http://www.lincolnshireecho.co.uk/Macclesfield-Town-3-Lincoln-City-1-match-report/story-20473409-detail/story.html