Saturday 28th August 2004 – League Two

Macclesfield Town 2 Scunthorpe United 2

Jon Parkin failed to score for the first time on Saturday

Goals: Harsley 45, Tipton 71 (pen)

Booked: Parkin, Barras

Attendance: 2,321

FootyMAD report (from www.silkmen-mad.co.uk):

“The spoils were shared in an end to end top of the table battle as Macclesfield twice came back from the dead to deny Scunthorpe.

The home side thought they had taken the lead on 23 minutes when big Jon Parkin bundled both the ball and opposition keeper Paul Musselwhite into the net only for the referee to disallow the goal on the ruling of his assistant.

Scunthorpe carved out the opener on 29 minutes when the impressive Andy Keogh found Matt Sparrow with a slide rule pass, the right winger flying into the box before lashing home a low drive into the far corner.

Macclesfield equalised on the stroke of half time, the jinking Danny Whittaker picking out Paul Harsley with a neat pass across the six yard line for the midfield man to drill home.

Scunthorpe were again the better side after the break, Lee Ridley in acres of space skewing a shot across the face of goal where Paul Hayes bagged an opportunist strike.

Both Mike Sheron and Danny Whittaker both went close for Macclesfield with Richard Kell fizzing a drive inches wide at the upright for Scunthorpe.

Macclesfield then earned a controversial penalty as Nathan Stanton was judged to have barged Parkin in the box, Matthew Tipton duly stepping up to lash home his second goal of the season from the spot.

Sheron then forced a superb save from Musselwhite, but it was Hayes who might have stolen the game deep into injury time when a low shot cannoned off the upright.”

Tuesday 24th August 2004 – Carling Cup first round

Hartlepool United 2 Macclesfield Town 1

Macclesfield Town: Steve Wilson; Mark Bailey, Matthew Barrass, Michael Welch, Graham Potter; Paul Harsley, Tommy Widdrington, Michael Briscoe, Danny Whittaker; Jon Parkin, Matthew Tipton (Mike Sheron 75). Subs not used: Tim Deasy, John Miles, Michael Carr, Ian Brightwell.

Goal: Parkin 48

Booked: Welch

Attendance: 2,883

FootyMAD report (from www.silkmen-mad.co.uk):

“Hartlepool sneaked into the second round of the Carling Cup - but only just.

Previously unbeaten Macclesfield managed to survive an incredibly one-sided first half, then took the lead early in the second and looked good enough to keep it as Pool lost their rhythm.

But star striker Adam Boyd came to the home team's rescue in a stunning last 12 minutes.

In a goalless first half, it was all Hartlepool and Macclesfield keeper Steve Wilson made six good saves as the home team won 11 corners.

Wilson foiled Kevin Betsy inside the first minute, and he went on to make two saves each from Boyd and Chris Westwood and another from Michael Nelson.

At the other end there was only one Macc chance, Mattie Tipton running from his own half before his 25-yarder saw Dimitrius Konstantopoulos save well.

But the big keeper stood no chance on 48 minutes when Jon Parkin, on loan to Hartlepool from Barnsley in the 2001-02 season, blasted a low shot into the bottom corner after turning well on the edge of the area.

Konstantopoulos saved well again from Parkin as Macc threatened to take over completely, but Boyd got in on the act late on to win the game.

On 78 minutes he won possession in a deep position and beat one man before lashing a low shot into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

Then, with just four minutes left, Boyd got away on the right and crossed low for midfield man Tony Sweeney to hammer his close-range shot into the net.”

Saturday 21st August 2004 – League Two

Boston United 1 Macclesfield Town 1

Macclesfield Town: Alan Fettis; Mark Bailey, Matthew Barrass, Michael Welch, Graham Potter; Paul Harsley, Tommy Widdrington, Michael Briscoe, Danny Whittaker; Jon Parkin, Matthew Tipton. Subs not used: Steve Wilson, John Miles, Mike Sheron, Steve Brackenbridge, Ian Brightwell.

Goal: Parkin 79

Booked: Harsley, Tipton

Attendance: 2,736

FootyMAD report (from www.silkmen-mad.co.uk):

“Honours ended even as Boston United ended Macclesfield's 100% start to the new season by holding them to a 1-1 draw at York Street.

It seemed as though Brian Horton's men would make it four wins in as many games when John Parkin headed them into a 79th minute lead, only for Boston to level though Jason Lee two minutes later.

The match got of to a cagey start and it took eight minutes for the first chance to arrive when former Macclesfield striker Martin Carruthers saw a low shot held by Alan Fettis.

The action failed to rise above a mediocre level with the next chance coming on 17 minutes for the visitors when Matthew Tipton fired over from a Mark Bailey cross.

Boston answered with further brief forays forward including shots from distance by David Noble and Courtney Pitt which flew wide of their intended target.

Boston continued to show some decent attacking ideas but, once again, on the half hour Curruthers wasted a chance when put clear. Macclesfield hit back and a Tipton shot was deflected just wide by Paul Ellender.

Then as the interval approached Boston sprang to life and Curruthers was twice denied in quick succession by two fine reaction saves from Fettis.

Macclesfield were the first to threaten after the break with a cleverly worked free-kick seeing Paul Harsley's curling effort pushed past the post by Nathan Abbey who then had to clutch a skimming effort from Danny Whitaker.

Boston hit back with phases of attacking but only once went close on 66 minutes when Ellender just headed wide from a Tom Bennett corner.

Boston missed a terrific chance on 74 minutes when substitute Danny Thomas and Simon Rusk were involved in a bright attack, the latter heading wide from the winger's cross.

But it was Macclesfield who broke the deadlock on 79 minutes when Parkin dived to head in at the far post after Bailey had headed a long ball from Harsley into the danger area. But two minutes later Boston equalised when Lee rose to head in a Bennett corner.”

Saturday 14th August 2004 – League Two

Macclesfield Town 1 Swansea City 0

Macclesfield Town: Alan Fettis; Mark Bailey, Matthew Barrass, Michael Welch, Graham Potter; Paul Harsley, Tommy Widdrington, Michael Briscoe, Danny Whittaker; Jon Parkin, Matthew Tipton. Subs not used: Steve Wilson, John Miles, Mike Sheron, Michael Carr, Ian Brightwell.

Goal: Parkin 17

Booked: none

Attendance: 2,164

FootyMAD report (from www.silkmen-mad.co.uk):

“Macclesfield moved to the top of the Coca-Cola League 2 due to man mountain Jonathan Parkin's fourth goal in three games.

The six foot five inch beefcake made amends for earlier planting a free header straight at Willy Gueret when he calmly controlled a skidding Mark Bailey cross on his chest before thumping home from 10 yards.

Macc's new keeper Alan Fettis then had to be at his best as he denied the visitors an immediate response.

First he tipped an Andy Robinson free-kick over the bar before he palmed a low Kevin Nugent drive round the upright.

Swansea were angry when a Paul Connor goal was disallowed for offside earning them the first of five bookings in an increasing petulant display.

Robinson nearly equalised for them after the break when his low drive was deflected over the bar by Michael Welch. But their best chance came in the 64th minute as Tony Barras presented Conner with a close-range gift. However from a narrow angle he could only scuff his attempt across the face of goal.

First Paul Harsley for Macclesfield then Matthew Tipton both wasted 20 yard free-kicks before Tipton nearly added a second with a firecracker 20-yard drive that crashed against the upright.”

Tuesday 10th August 2004 – League Two

Macclesfield Town 2 Shrewsbury Town 1

Macclesfield Town: Alan Fettis; Mark Bailey, Matthew Barrass, Michael Welch, Graham Potter; Paul Harsley, Tommy Widdrington (Mike Sheron 77), Michael Briscoe, Danny Whittaker; Jon Parkin, Matthew Tipton. Subs not used: Steve Wilson, John Miles, Michael Carr, Ian Brightwell.

Goals: Parkin 18, Barrass 28

Booked: Bailey, Parkin

Attendance: 2,641

FootyMAD report (from www.silkmen-mad.co.uk):

“Macclesfield moved to the top of the Coca Cola League 2 courtesy of two clinical finishes from first-half corners.

The Shrews will rue their lack of aerial power and let Macclesfield bully them at set pieces.

The opening goal came in the 18th minute when big Jonathan Parkin blasted his third goal of the season, rising above the defence to powerfully head home a Paul Harsley corner at the far post.

Ten minutes later Macclesfield scored an almost identical goal, this time centre back Tony Barras delivering a bullet header to convert a far post Harsley corner. Shrewsbury were a different side in the second half, Ben Smith igniting the touch paper when he crashed a 25 yard shot against the crossbar in the 49th minute.

Shrewsbury where gifted a lifeline when Macclesfield's new keeper Alan Fettis let a low Smith shot creep under his body in the 66th minute.

The goal had been created by Luke Rodgers whose threatening running was beginning to cause havoc in the home defence. Rodgers might have scored twice in the 68th minute, only to be denied by two magnificent saves by Fettis.

Macc's No1 was then in top form in injury time as he clutched hold of a Jamie Tolley drive.

Macclesfield manager Brian Horton said: "Over 46 games you going to have to grind out some results. We battered them in the first half but as normally happens they were giving a rollicking and came out much stronger.

"I told them at half-time that the next goal was important. If we could get a third we might go on to get four or five, but if they scored it would be anybody's game. In the end though you could probably attach some blame to Fettis for the first goal.

"He made some exceptional saves to keep us in the match.” Horton added: "I don't see why we can't go on and get promotion this season. We've got six points out of six and I'll let you into a little secret. Though I'm not a betting man I've had a little punt at 40-1. Those odds were ridiculous."

Shrewsbury manager Jimmy Quinn said: "It's very, very frustrating to give away two soft goals when you have the height we have at the back.

"I keep telling the players that if you give away needless free-kicks and corners in the last third then you're going to put yourself under pressure.

"We didn't play well in the first half and I thought that we lacked the belief to win a game of football.

"We had a few words at half-time and we produced a bit more quality and more appetite in the second half, but to give away two such soft goals is very disappointing."”

Summary – The Shrimpers vs. the Silkmen form

Southend United

L1-2 (away; Bristol Rovers; League Two; Adam Barrett)

L0-2 (away; West Ham United; Carling Cup)

D0-0 (home; Cambridge United; League Two)

L0-2 (away; Rochdale; League Two)

D1-1 (away; Lincoln City; League Two; Wayne Gray [pen])

(Won 0, Drawn 2, Lost 3, Scored 2, Conceded 7)

Macclesfield Town

D2-2 (home; Scunthorpe United; League Two; Paul Harsley, Matthew Tipton [pen])

L1-2 (away; Hartlepool United; Carling Cup; Jon Parkin)

D1-1 (away; Boston United; League Two; Jon Parkin)

W1-0 (home; Swansea City; League Two; Jon Parkin)

W2-1 (home; Shrewsbury Town; League Two; Jon Parkin)

(Won 2, Drawn 2, Lost 1, Scored 7, Conceded 6)