By Nathan Jackson
January 1 2007

A very very dodgy performance from the referee saw him award Macclesfield 2 controversial penalties on a wet afternoon. City wasted several chances to win the game by a mile but worryingly didn't create anything after the 2nd penalty in a very frustrating day.

City won a quick free kick and Jeff Hughes almost made the most of the moisture as he tried his luck from 45 yards. It was on target and seemed to be heading into the net but Tommy Lee managed to catch the ball....just. City had started well but on 5 minutes, a long ball upfield was played out for the throw in, however with the Macclesfield fans shouting handball, the official who up until that point hadn’t shown any interest, suddenly gave a penalty. Kevin McIntyre took and scored the resultant penalty.

The game continued but it was being well controlled by the Imps. Forrester and Amoo worked well down the right before Amoo swung the ball into the box, Hughes controlled the ball well and rounded a defender before smashing home his 3^rd goal in 3 games. Within a minute, Matt Tipton forced a corner for the hosts but it came to nothing.

Marriott saved well from McNeil’s 20 yard drive, the lanky striker again tested Marriott , but the keeper saved well at his feet. A bit of quick thinking came very close to giving the Imps the lad. A foul on Kerr won City a free kick about 25 yards out, with Lee still trying to organise his wall, Shane Nicholson took a quick shot and only a good save from a scrambling Lee prevented a goal and forced a corner. That was subsequently wasted by the Imps.

There were minor chances in the remainder of the first half but none were particularly noteworthy.

City started the second half well with Lee Beevers setting Forrester free on the keeper. The striker took his time in taking his shot and that allowed Lee to race off his line. Forrester again wasted a good chance within a minute as he tried to chip Lee whilst through on goal but the ball didn’t come anywhere near the goal. It become a hat-trick of wasted chances when he sent a weak volley, again from a free run on goal, straight into the arms of Lee.

Amoo was next to rue his luck as good work from Stallard saw him released on the right, Amoo’s shot however went well over the bar. Within a minute and Macclesfield had won a penalty. The referee awards the spot kick despite McNeil being clearly the player doing all the fouling. He was tugging as Moses shirt and trying to climb all over him before the striker went to ground and the referee pointed to the spot. McIntyre pointed to the spot again. Moses was booked for his process and was quickly joined by Beevers.

McNeil was then booked before Spencer Weir-Daly made his debut for City as he replaced Nicholson, who was making his last appearance before the end of his loan spell from Chester. Another example of the referee’s inability to stick with a decision came as Weir-Daly fouled Lee, the referee blew the whistle but then let every player walk away at Lee got treatment, as Lee got up, more than 3 minutes after going down, the referee walks over to SWD and decides to book him. Murphy replaced Tipton for Macc.

Bullock was booked for time-wasting after he decided to give the ball for someone else to throw after he himself had just recieved the ball from another player who had given him the ball to throw. He was quickly substituted. Gritton replaced Stalard and despite 4 minutes of added time, the Imps could’t create any more chances as the Imps went down to the first defeat in 5.