Silkmen Stun Shakers

Last updated : 31 January 2005 By Dave Morris

A damp day at the Moss Rose although the rain held off. The Silkmen lined up as Fettis in goal, Harsley, Swailes, Carragher, Welch and Potter across the back, Mackenzie, Navarro and McIntyre across midfield and Parkin and Tipton up front. Bury were in their away yellow strip and appeared to win the toss and surprisingly did not change ends.

With kick off, ex-Bury man Swailes matched up with Keogh and it was the visitors making the early running. On 8 minutes Macc were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Bury area. Navarro drove the ball in but the Bury wall did its job - just. Bury attacked on the break and Keogh got in a header that went off Swailes for a corner.

Bury took the lead on 14 minutes. A drive down their left brought Carragher across, but he couldn't stop Whaley putting the ball into the Macc area. With Welch and Potter covering the cross, there looked little danger, but LEE UNSWORTH managed to get a header in between them to get the ball into the Macc goal.

With the sun now making a brief appearance, Keogh switched sides, going up against Welch and it was Unsworth again getting forward and forcing Fettis to make a one handed punching save. The game then became rather messy as the visitors resolutely defended and shut Macc down. Games of head tennis became common. With the Bury fans questioning his personal habits, Tipton broke free on the left and his cross in was headed over the crossbar by Challinor with Parkin behind him looking dangerous. Parkin followed this with an overhead kick that tamely bounced into Marriott's arms, when it might have been better left for Mackenzie.

33 minutes and the ball was swiftly forward to Parkin, whose snap shot went just over the Bury crossbar. As halftime approached, Macc went into their giveaway mode, constantly passing the ball to a yellow shirt and inviting on pressure. Bury players took to falling over to gain free-kicks.

Half-time and Navarro was substituted for Whitaker. Again Macc gained a free-kick on the edge of the Bury area. McIntyre's curling shot beat the wall and produced a good diving save from Marriott. From the corner Macc would eventually score. Harsley's teasing ball in was cleared, re-gathered and put back in by Potter. With the Bury defence looking static, expecting a whistle, Parkin backed off and set up MICHAEL WELCH and the big defender's crisp shot easily beat Marriott. Bury were unhappy claiming a push but Mr Friend was happy with the goal.

After a period where they had been rather sitting back, Bury now came forward more looking for a goal. Keogh had a free header but put the ball well wide. 63 minutes and the Macc defence went giveaway, giving Keogh a chance for a run and shot but Swailes managed to get back and block. The game was now opening up and Parkin and Tipton on the edge of the Bury area tried desperately to set up Mackenzie but the ball just would not flow through to the free player. From a Macc corner, Parkin rose and his header in on goal was well saved by Marriott. Horton put Miles on for Mackenzie.

Macc were now applying the pressure looking for the winner. Whitaker crossed in and a looping header from Parkin went just wide. Bury substituted, putting on the ex-Silkman David Flitcroft. From another Macc free-kick, another Parkin header was on its way into the Bury goal when Fitzgerald acrobatically scooped the ball away. The ball was so near to going into the net that if it had been against Macc, a goal would have been given.

Bury threw the dice, replacing their two strikers and the visitors had a good chance to score when Welch gave away a free-kick for which he was booked (fifth of season - one match ban coming up!). The kick in was turned goalwards by Kazim-Richards. Fettis producing a tremendous save as the ball had goal written all over it. But as full time approached it was Macc who scored the winner. A flick ball forward by Miles and the much maligned Tipton beat the off-side and advanced on the Bury goal, he drew the Bury keeper and slipped the ball sideways through the legs of Unsworth and into the path of JON PARKIN who side footed the ball into the Bury goal. Celebrations were excessive, but why not! Parkin's seventeenth League goal of the season makes him the Silkmen's top single season League scorer and the clear top League Two scorer in all competitions. Tipton had taken a lot of stick off the Bury fans but had kept his cool and replied in the best way showing composure and unselfishness.

Bury had a chance to salvage something but a Mattis header found Fettis in superb form to deny the visitors again. And the whistle blew to finish the game. 48 points, the Silkmen safe for another season. Bring on Yeovil! League One here we come!