Just 1067 witnessed this Macclesfield V Lincoln City encounter. A first half littered with niggles and subsequent free kicks had few shots or chances. Except the one that mattered Carson saved from Barnett up front and isolated and Grimes squirmed free of his man to fire over the bar. Then moments later Hunt hit an instinctive right foot, that’s right, right foot 30-yard unstoppable piledriver that seared into the top right hand corner. Get in there 1-0 Imps and queue celebrations from the 120 diehards.
Clapham was again a busy bee, his calming influence and set piece ability a growing influence for the Imps as we dominated possession (70%) although the shot (3-5) and save count (1-3) disagreed. Both midfields stifled any further action although Hamza had a decent effort saved by Carson and Ben Hutchinson got a booking for persistent infringement.
Hone took a yellow early doors, as Barnett threatened to leave him standing and O’Keefe sent an effort wide. Grimes also got a booking for unsporting behaviour, his 9th of the season, leaving him one short of a two match ban. Maccs seemed to have an urgency, perhaps Butch’s influence, as his memory would naturally hang heavy on this one. Carson claimed a couple of free kicks as the Silkmen continued to hem them into their own half. Carayol was set free by Carson and Kelly but Veiga was alert to it.
Facey headed a Daniels freekick off the line as the Silkmen continued to press. Hone caught an elbow in the face from Barnett and then Carson made a fantastic save from a Bencherif bullet. Hutchinson then inexcusably kicked the ball away for a second yellow to put the Imps even more on the back foot. Bencherif fired just over the bar after Danny Hone had cut out the cross only for Watts to needlessly concede possession.
Hone was having a massive game as the match entered the final quarter with none given, so to speak as the niggles continued. Grimes was lucky not to get a second yellow for a foul on Hamza, but Tilly not silly, had seen enough and took him off for McCallum. Hone would have headed cannon balls tonight such was his response to the Silkmen’s aerial bombardment as they forced 10 corners.
Howell replaced Carayol on 75 to help to shut the game out and Simmo changed it to two up front with the introduction of Sappleton. Kanyuka then replaced the tiring Clapham to counter. Facey chased a late lost cause and crossed well but alas McCallum failed to gamble at the post.
Then with 92 minutes on the clock a Wedgebury wonder goal as the Macc midfielder hit a 25 yard thunderbolt. Carson had no chance and then moments later Facey finished the night on another low with a shoulder injury.
Justice done with both sides deserving a share of the spoils on a night for Richard Butcher and of course the big man Keith Alexander.
Apologies for not doing you and the match report justice tonight lads - despite the eye a bad trip to the dentist and other factors I think myself lucky.
Veiga
Diagne (Y) Morgan Brown Gray
Wedgebury
Bencherif Draper Bolland Daniel
Barnett
Substitutions Sappleton on for Bolland 77 Sinclair on for Draper 84
Substitutes 13 Cudworth 2 Reid 3 Tremarco 9 Sinclair 10 Sappleton 20 Hanshaw 32 Lane
Carson
Kelly Hone (Y) Watts Hunt
Carayol Clapham O’Keefe Facey
Grimes (Y) Hutchinson (2 Y - R)
Substitutions McCallum on for Grimes 68. Howell on for Carayol 75, Kanyuka for Clapham 79.
Substitutes 20 Musselwhite, 2 Green, 9 McCallum, 15 Howell, 25 Hughton 39 Spencer 40 Kanyuka
Macclesfield 1 - 1 Lincoln City (HT 0-1)
Scorers
Macc Wedgebury 92
Lincoln Hunt 19
Ref: Sarginson
Att 1067 (130 visiting supporters)
Possession
Macclesfield 47% Lincoln City 53%
Shots on target
Macclesfield 8 Lincoln City 3
Shots off target
Macclesfield 6 Lincoln City 1
Corners
Macclesfield 11 Lincoln City 3
Fouls
Macclesfield 13 Lincoln City 11
Offsides
Macclesfield 1 Lincoln City 2
Saves
Macclesfield 1 Lincoln City 8
Yellow
Macclesfield 1 Lincoln City 3
Red
Macclesfield 0 Lincoln City 1