By Nathan Jackson
December 3 2005

In a game that the visitors dominated, the Imps were looking forward to escape with a point, despite leading at one point. Losing 1-0 with 20 minutes to go, a fluke and a beautiful goal turned the game in City's favour before Macc equalised 70 seconds later. This is simply not good enough.

City kicked off the game and a decent defensive clearance sent Logan free down the right, the on loan Peterborough man tried to chip the goal of former Hull and York keeper, Alan Fettis but the went will wide of the goal. Macclesfield then started to dominate the opening play, although City were helping them out a lot by passing the ball straight to them on numerous occasions. Kevin Sandwith, despite getting booed by the fans who cheered him last season, was proving dangerous and he was providing plenty of decent ball into the box.

 

Despite dominating, Macclesfield couldn’t get a chance in until the 12 minute mark when Sandwith provided Teague a chance but the midfielder could only aim his week header at Marriott. City actually managed to get a chance in when Keates provided a pass for Asamoah but Morley blocked the “striker’s” shot.

 

City won a free kick in Keates territory with just under 20 minutes gone. Keates, Kerr and Brown all stood around the ball before Kerr took it and the ball sailed over the bar and into the Macclesfield fans. However, despite the recent pick up in action, City started to sit back again and many thought Macclesfield had scored just after the half way point of the half when Wijnhard sprung down the right and unleashed a powerful shot goalwards, it appeared to enter the net but fortunately for the Imps, it hit the net on the wrong side of the post.

 

With 7 minutes of a very poor half left to play, McCombe and a Macc player both fought for the ball, it made it’s way back to Fettis who was clearly unsure of who touched it last, so he decided to swing at it, the ball flipped directly vertical and he attempted to kick it again and this time, it swung backwards, Asamoah saved it from going out for a corner before taking his time to control it before sending the ball miles wide from a difficult angle, yet another example of how selfish Asamoah can be on the ball, considering he had McCombe, Birch and Logan all left with an open goal, it would have been considerably easier to score if he’s chosen that option.

 

Asamoah’s decision proved costly on the stroke of half time when Nat Brown gave away the ball in midfield, it was booted forward by Morley and Wijnhard controlled the ball, before turning around several defenders and unleashing an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box.

 

Macclesfield started the second half like they had ended the first and they had the ball in the back of the net within a minute. Macc won a free kick which the City defence hesitated to clear, Wijnhard produced a beautiful volley but the offside flag prevented Macclesfield from taking a deserved lead.

 

The 2^nd half, much like the first, was proving very frustrating for both sides as chances seemed few and far between. City’s first chance of the second half came when Logan headed goalwards from just inside the area but it went straight to Fettis, who hadn’t been tested at this point. City won a corner just after the hour mark, Keates crossed the ball in which McCombe headed to Birch who turned and volleyed but unlike last week, he didn’t score as Fettis made a fantastic save to prevent him.

City won another free kick just over 20 yards out with 20 minutes to go. Dean Keates smashed the ball goalwards, it hit McAuley’s head and the defender scored his 3^rd goal in 3 games against Macclesfield and the goal was greeted with genuine surprise from Imps fans.

 

City began to control the game and wasted a few opportunities to make it 2-1. However, with 10 minutes to go, came a beautiful goal from Brown. After the ball fell to him just inside Macclesfield half, he ran forwards and sent a chip towards goal, many thought it had gone wide but then it started heading down rapidly and went into the net for arguably, the best goal of the season so far.

 

Just as it looked that City were heading to their first home win in over 2 months, the elation lasted for around 70 seconds. From the kick off, a few throw-ins eventually resulted in a goalmouth scramble. Navarro shot against the post and left Teague with a simple tap in to make it 2-2 and over the whole course of the game, a point was the last Macclesfield deserved.

 

A quiet 10 minutes was followed by a tense 3 minutes added on time which saw 2 fantastic saves from Marriott preventing Macclesfield from winning the game. Parkin’s shot from the edge of the area was brilliantly tipped over by Marriot. From the corner, Morley sent a header goalwards, the ball seemed destined for the net but Marriott barely got his fingers to it and saved an undeserved point for the Imps.