The match winner
Two unbeaten teams met at sunny Edger Street and produced a most enjoyable game of football, with both sides playing it on the ground and trying to win all three points.
With Luke Dimech away on international duty, Carl Regan came in as replacement. The first twenty minutes produced some free flowing football by both sides but without fully extending either goalie. The front pairing of Martin Gritton and Francis Green were combining really well but the home side's defence, marshalled by Richard Rose, kept the score level.
The Bulls looked to play the ball into the channels but Jimmy McNulty gave a man of the match performance with sliding tackles, strong headers and even full body dives to save the Silkmen. The first chance fell to the Bulls with good work down the line from Lionel Ainsworth. His cross into the six yard box was met by Steve Guinan who misjudged his header and the ball went wide of Tommy Lee's goal.
As the half wore on the pairing of Murray and Dunfield began to run the midfield with quick, sharp passing creating chances for Thomas, Green and Reid but the Bulls keeper Wayne Brown was equal to it all.
Both sides upped the tempo looking to take a lead into half time and it was the Silkmen that came closest, when Martin Gritton jinked past 3 defenders on the edge of the box only to see his shot saved by Brown. Whilst up the other end Tommy Lee kept the score line level with some solid takes from free kicks.
Half time 0-0
The second half started brightly with both teams again trying to gain control. The first clear cut opportunity fell to Terry Dunfield who found himself unmarked 5 yards out but somehow he managed to scoop the ball over the goalie and the bar.
The near miss rattled the Bulls and Levi Reid and Danny Thomas came close but were denied again by Wayne Brown with solid saves low down. Back came the boys in blue, Martin Gritton got away from his marker but his header was too soft. Tommy Lee then produced a full stretch dive to his right and so it went on.
Trevor Benjamin and Luke Webb came on around the hour to give the Bulls fresh legs upfront but Richard Edghill had it all under control. A full length block by Edghill saved the day and Tommy Lee's huge kick down field found Francis Green whose pace troubled the Bulls back line but his drive went high and wide. The heat began to take its toll as the tempo slowed in the last fifteen minutes. Both teams tried different corner routines but both defences were up to the task.
It was Macc's turn to press forward, another Thomas shot well saved. Jimmy McNulty headed straight at the goalie and it was now the Bulls playing on the break. With just ten minutes of the game remaining we saw the first booking when Carl Regan failed to retreat ten yards. A minute later Dave Morley came on for his first appearance of the season.
Then it happened, a great pass from midfield found Martin Gritton who controlled the ball, shielded off the defender and slipped it into the path of Francis Green 20 yards out. He took it round the last defender into the area drew the goalie and calmly slotted it under him and into the left hand corner. A goal of the highest class. One nil to the Silkmen.
We endured another ten minutes of nail biting as the Bulls raced forward, pounding the Blues area and it took a wonderful save by Tommy Lee from point-blank range to keep the them at bay. A string of free kicks resulted in non-stop pressure and Ian Brightwell made full use of his substitutions with Hadfield and Evans coming on to help stem the flow. A wonderful day out was complete as the referee finally blew the whistle and the Silkmen boys remain unbeaten - one nil to the boys in blue!
Dean Bamford
