Tuesday 20 August. Moss Rose , 7.45pm Lge 2.
As away evenings go, Macc is nearby, friendly and like us, welcoming. They have suffered Big Sol walking away but have had a good start to the season and in the first half it showed. Brewitt replaced Kenyon and Miller and Stockton started their first game together up top yet still we weren’t firing on all cylinders. We did start brightly, with O’Sullivan and Buxton having early efforts, but then Macc began to dominate possession and create opportunities. The lively Archibald, on loan, was causing wide problems and a couple of chances forced Baz into routine saves. A long range effort clipped the bar but the the best fell to a centre back from a corner whose powerful header was clawed onto the bar and away. Our passing was poor, with lack of communication and cohesion not helping, but it is early easy for this group. So at HT we were lucky to be level.
The second period began with Macc still pressing but this time with less fluency, however our midfield was being by passed (AGAIN) and we struggled to support any player with the ball. A free kick was delivered by Buxton to Old, way out on the left flank, his turn and cross was excellent for a centre back, with Suttons diving header sublimely nestling in the bottom corner to give us the lead. This was very much against the run of play, however Tutte came on and we started to build more pressure on the Macc back three.
Miller anticipated a back pass, rounded the keeper and was unlucky to see his shot from an oblique angle ricochet back off the far post and fall behind Stockton, fine margins etc. With O’Sullivan free on the right, we looked a more potent force and began at last to find our men. Kev and Rhys came on and did well, Miller creating another opportunity for Tutte to shoot wide of the left post, as we saw out time fairly comfortably.
235 travelled to see this from Morecambe and went home happy, though we will play better and lose at some point, however we still do not have a recognisable rhythm or flow to our play, something Macc did. Plus points tonight were Brewitt looks very calm and capable, Miller came alive and looked like his old self in the second half, and now all the back three centre backs have chipped in with goals.
Cranston did well when a goal up, so if we can just get midfield ticking better when attacking and then some chances created for the forwards, who knows what can happen?

As you may have noticed, I have abandoned the old style of last season of teams, weather etc, for a more chatty style. Other peeps like Rog do a great job and they are great at the details, if everyone is Ok Ill continue with the stream of consciousness style!!

Freez.