Macclesfield Town v Lincoln City, 15 March 2011

Venue: Moss Rose, Macclesfield

Attendance: 1,067

Final score: 1-1

Once again a match between Lincoln City and Macclesfield Town is overshadowed as the two sides come together in grief to mourn a lost friend – Richard Butcher.

The Imps were able to name an unchanged lineup from Saturday’s battling win over Southend, and had high hopes of picking up more crucial points this evening.

The match started in tentative fashion, with neither side able to settle on the ball.  The first real chance came after about 15 minutes when Barnett was put through one on one with Carson, but the City keeper was up to the task and saved the low shot.

City responded well and were pressing Macclesfield back when Hunt played a one two with Grimes before curling a delicious long range shot past the despairing Veiga.  It was a superb strike – one of many long range efforts scored by City this season.  Despite the league table not always looking great, a DVD of City’s best goals would be well worth the purchase come May.

Macclesfield were quick to respond, with ex-Imp Hamza Bencherif poking wide from just a few yards out.

As the half came to a close, the referee had a few decisions to make, as first Hutchinson and Brown had words with each other and then Hutchinson appealed for a penalty after a high boot Diagne.  It was Hutchinson to receive the referee’s ire though, picking up a booking on the stroke of halftime for persistent foul play.

The second half started brightly with both sides having early shots.  Macclesfield slowly began to press for an equalizer however, winning a number of corners.

On the hour, Carson was forced into a good one handed save by Draper.  As City looked to attack again, the game’s decisive moment unfolded.  Hutchinson was penalized for a foul, but still struck the ball goalwards.  The referee, obviously inspired by the Arsenal Barcelona game of last week, deemed this a bookable offence, and just like Robin Van Persie, Hurchinson’s second yellow card meant a lonely trudge down the tunnel.  Hopefully Tilson will show slightly more decorum and class than Wenger did if he decides to discuss the decision after the match.

Macclesfield now began to take control in their search for a way back into the match.  In an attempt to sure up the defence, McCallum came on for Grimes, leaving Facey as a lone striker.  The Silkmen continued to apply pressure, but weren’t able to test Carson as the Imps midfield and defence held firm.

As five minutes of injury time were signaled, there was hope that the 10 men of City might just hold on, but sadly it was not to be.  A half cleared throw-in fell to Wedgbury who drove the ball past Carson to send the home crowd into raptures.

Just before the final whistle went, City’s evening took another turn for the worse as a collision saw Delroy Facey limp off nursing his shoulder, which may be disclocated.  Hopefully the assessment will show the injury to be less severe, as the Imps would certainly miss the big striker’s commitment and leadership in the coming weeks.

Although the late goal was gutting for City, a draw was probably the right result, and City have gained another important point on the road.  Also, the game saw two good, well struck goals from midfielders, and that in itself seems a fitting tribute to Butch.

MACCLESFIELD TOWN
1 Jose Veiga
14 Tony Diagne
5 Nat Brown
6 Paul Morgan
22 Dan Gray
4 Hamza Bencherif
15 Paul Bolland
11 Colin Daniel
17 Sam Wedgbury
8 Ross Draper
23 Tyrone Barnett

Substitutes:
10 Ricky Sappleton for Bolland (77)
9 Emile Sinclair for Draper (84)
2 Izak Reid
3 Carl Tremarco
20 Matthew Hamshaw
32 Jack Lane
13 Jack Cudworth

LINCOLN CITY
24 Trevor Carson
16 Julian Kelly
4 Adam Watts
6 Danny Hone
23 Stephen Hunt
14 Josh O'Keefe
19 Jamie Clapham
7 Mustapha Carayol
18 Delroy Facey
27 Ben Hutchinson
29 Ashley Grimes

Substitutes:
9 Gavin McCallum for Grimes (68)
15 Luke Howell for Carayol (75)
40 Patrick Kanyuka for Clapham (79)
2 Paul Green
25 Cian Hughton
39 Scott Spencer
20 Paul Musselwhite

Tweet