Macclesfield 2-0 Pathetic County

Stockport County turned in a pathetic performance in the local derby at Macclesfield Town yesterday.

When the occasion called for a big performance, some of the players went missing in a passionless, pathetic and awful performance.

It all started from when the teams were announced, and again Jim Gannon confused many with his tactics. Jason Taylor, player of the season in the middle of the park is put out onto the left wing?

Anthony Pilkington moved upfront with Anthony Elding, Michael Raynes came into the middle of the park with Tony Dinning and Jason Taylor was on the left.

Two injured players (Adam Le Fondre and Michael Bowler), were joined on the bench by two youth players who have started one league game between them.

County fans packed Macclesfield, with over 3000 County fans in the ground out of an attendance of 4400. But that was the only thing County were going to win on all day.

County did however come out with the quicker tempo, and they should have had a penalty when Tommy Lee brought Anthony Elding down. The referee waved play on – and this was an indication of what he would be like all afternoon. With ex-United scum as the opposing teams manager then you’ll never get anything all afternoon of the referees.

Anthony Pilkington should have handed County the lead after some great play cut Macclesfield apart. Anthony Elding got onto Michael Raynes pass, crossed the ball across the box to the free Pilkington but Pilkington headed over from six yards out.

But that was about all County would create, and from here on in the rest of the game was Macclesfield’s.

A corner was handed to Macclesfield when Tony Dinning questionably put the ball out for a corner kick. One of my dad’s mates said ‘McNeil will score here’, he wasn’t far wrong as John Murphy climbed above everybody and headed the ball into the net.

County have everyman back on set pieces, Macc left three men back meaning it was 6 v 11 in the box and Macclesfield come out with a goal?!

The 3000 County fans soon shut up, and it was the 1400 Macclesfield fans that were making the most noise.

John Murphy nearly doubled the lead, when a snapshot was well caught by Joe Lewis in the County goal.

Matty McNeil then had his chance to double the lead, McIntyre put a great cross into the box but McNeil headed over when he should have really scored.

Martin Bullock followed up minutes later with another chance for Macclesfield, but Joe Lewis came rushing out and smothered the shot. This looked like the County team that had lost 6-0 to Macclesfield last season, not the one that is supposedly 6th in the league.

Adam Le Fondre replaced Rob Clare, who seemed to have an injury but the team was playing so poor it didn’t really matter. Le Fondre brought a bit of life to County, and won a corner, which got the County fans going. However Lee came straight out and collected the ball to again shut the travelling fans up.

Second half started, with Michael Bowler replacing Michael Raynes. We now had Le Fondre, who hadn’t played for County in over a month, and Bowler, who hadn’t played for County in over four months on the pitch as County showed their lack of depth.

From here on it definitely was all Macclesfield.

Martin Bullock had a chance that Lewis saved well, McIntyre crossed well for Murphy who headed over and McNeil volleyed straight at Lewis.

The County fans were getting frustrated and moans were coming from the away end, and rightly so with this pathetic performance.

Anthony Pilkington continued to look like a duck out of water. It’s unfair on the lad, he’s come from college in January and not had a rest – he’s been thrown in at the deep end and we are now seeing the consequences of not having much depth.

Macclesfield finally doubled their lead when John Miles made a run into the box, took his time as he twisted and turned and then he placed a shot past Joe Lewis who could do nothing about it.

Finally in the 85th minute Tommy Lee had a save to make. Adam Le Fondre tried something spectacular and nearly got a reward, but Tommy Lee tipped it over the bar as he had time to steady himself with the ball travelling from over 20 yards out.

But County were booed off the pitch at the end, and only four or five players could say that they gave their all yesterday.

It`s not good enough; we better sort ourselves out cause it doesn’t look like we want promotion at the moment!