The second of the pre-season friendlys at the Moss Rose saw the arrival of Coca Cola Football League One side Huddersfield Town. Macc lined up in their 5-3-2, with Fettis in goal, Carr, Welch, Briscoe, Barras and Potter at the back, Whitaker, Widdrington and Harsley in midfield and Parkin and Tipton up front. Huddersfield also played in their 5-3-2. The officials were in green tops and black shorts, a colour scheme that matched Fettis in the Macc goal.
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Huddersfield soon had the ball in the Macc goal, Fettis scrambling to clear it, but the ref blew for a push and the goal did not stand. It was all Huddersfield in the early stages with Junior Mendes giving problems with his trickery and Andy Booth out jumping the Macc defence. On 8 mins, Huddersfield forced a corner and Booth beat Fettis to the ball to head over. 14 mins and Tipton gave away a free kick down on the Macc right and again Booth won the header, but the ball went over.
For Macclesfield, it was a struggle to just get into the game, Tipton in particular being quickly shut down whenever he got possession. On 17 mins, Barras went off for some treatment after a challenge with Booth and at last Macc put something together that resulted in Whitaker crossing for Parkin, but he climbed all over Sodje and the free kick was given. Barras returned and he was soon working a free kick back for Potter? to try a shot on goal that was blocked away.
Huddersfield came back strong and after Parkin gave away a free kick, the ball was not well cleared and a shot on goal that looked to be going in was finger-tipped away by Fettis. For a spell, it looked as though Carr and Whitaker had swapped positions, neither of them filling the right back spot. This left a big hole that Mendes looked to exploit, beating Welch along the by-line, but his shot cum cross was smothered by Fettis. On 38 mins, from a Parkin throw in, Potter found Tipton, whose shot was straight at Gray in the Huddersfield goal. Mendes responded, brilliantly exploiting the big hole down the right hand side of the Macc defence, but his shot was dreadful, going well wide. On half time, Tipton was checked by the Huddersfield defence as he tried to burst through, which resulted in a Macc free-kick on the edge of the area. Potter fired in a low shot that looked goal bound, but Gray, diving well to his right pushed the ball away. In extra time, Huddersfield looked to open the scoring, the Huddersfield man looked like he pulled the ball down with his arm, but he shot wide anyway.
At half -time, Miles came on for Welch and the Silkmen changed to a 4-4-2. Presumably the match up in systems was seen to be not working for Macclesfield and the extra man in midfield would give the team some edge. The Macc defence did look more comfortable as a back four as Mendes and Booth faded from the game. The first half of the half was rather messy as neither side could get a grip on the game. On 55 mins, Tipton did get the ball into the net after Parkin chested the ball down, but the linesman's flag was up. On 60 mins, Fettis was beaten by a cross but the header at the back post went wide. Then around the 75 mins mark, the game suddenly opened up, with both sides finding space and pushing forward. Huddersfield forced a series of corners, which the Macc defence had to head away until Fettis punched one clear. Brandon tried a shot on the Macc goal, but Fettis gathered the ball up. On 80 mins it looked as though Huddersfield would score, when a cross ball in from their right was met by Booth and his header could only be parried by Fettis, but Barras was there to tidy the ball away.
On 83 mins Huddersfield scored the goal that they had been threatening to do so. The ex-Chesterfield and Torquay man, Brandon finding a hole again down the right hand side of the Macc defence and as the defence stood still, he fired in a cross goal shot that beat Fettis. Macc threw on Ross for Parkin and Morgan for Harsley, but the no real chance came, the only chance of note being when Ross worked Tipton in for a shot on goal that was easily saved by Gray.
A disappointing performance all round for the Silkmen. They played much better last Wednesday against more senior opposition. Huddersfield out performed and beat the Silkmen in most areas of the game. Again the right side of defence was non-existent for periods, a failure that cost points last season. We have to hope that Bailey remains fit for the season.
All times approximate.
Ref: Mr T Massey