Middlewich Town 1-2 AFC Macclesfield

AFTER a third successive defeat, Middlewich’s path to promotion is starting to look less straightforward.

A distance to the Daten, second in Cheshire League One, is six points after visitors AFC Macclesfield left Seddon Street as unexpected victors last weekend.

They twice punished sloppy defending at corners, when Jamie Manson and Rubin Kennerley were on hand to score, to establish a two-goal interval lead.

The Witches reacted, but were prevented by goalkeeper Elliott Simpson from braking through.

They continued to apply pressure during the second-half when Sam Wakefield, Jamie Petrie, Rory Gorton and Michael Whitehead all wasted chances to score.

Gorton halved the hosts’ arrears on 70 minutes, reacting quickly to find the net from close-range following another stop by the Macclesfield custodian, but a leveller didn’t follow.

Instead Middlewich were reduced to 10 men in the closing stages after goalkeeper Charles Masters was sent off for retaliation.

“We created enough chances to win three matches,” rued co-manager Ross Speight afterwards.

“It just wasn’t our day in front of goal, and their goalkeeper deserves credit for having a great game.

“We’re a well-drilled side, so to concede twice from a corner will bug me for the most of the week.”

Town | Masters (GK), McKay, Morris, Basford, Clawson, Jackson, Wakefield, Whitehead, Gorton, Rea, Petrie Subs Stockley, Twite, Hopkins, Weedall, Parkinson