Macclesfield FC are now six points clear at the top of the Northern Premier League West division thanks to a fine 4-0 win over struggling Ramsbottom United. However, it was the final game of the Dave McNabb era as he was to step down as manager of the Silkmen moments after the game alongside his assistant manager Tim Lees.
In the hour after the game, the club released the following statement announcing the news: ‘Macclesfield FC can confirm that Manager David McNabb and Assistant Manager Tim Lees have stepped down from their roles following this afternoon’s game against Ramsbottom United.
“Both David and Tim have taken this difficult decision in the best interests of the Football Club, as their work demands have meant that they no longer feel that they can devote the necessary time to our promotion push.
“David and Tim will be incredibly hard to replace and we would like to thank them for all their efforts most sincerely.
‘Both individuals are fantastic people and their work ethic is second to none.
‘They will be sorely missed by us all and we wish them both every success in the future.’
The game was the only one in the Northern Premier League West division as all the other games were wiped out due to the inclement weather hitting the majority of England, even then supporters woke up to photos on the Macclesfield social media feeds showing the pitch covered in snow.
A plea was issued to supporters to help clear the pitch and, around 20 hardy souls, including the two owners Robbie Savage and Rob Smethurst, were on the pitch trying to move the snow to get the game on.
Those volunteers were rewarded for their efforts as the game went ahead and, Macclesfield dictated the opening 15 minutes of the game as they kept possession of the ball as well as working a couple of fine chances to score. The first came on 11 minutes when James Berry broke into the area and saw his dinked effort hit Ramsbottom goalkeeper Harry Turner and bounced out for a corner.
Just seven minutes later, the league leaders were ahead, when the ball fell to Nicky Maynard just on the edge of the penalty area and, he found the bottom corner of Turner’s goal with a well placed strike that no keeper in the world would have been able to save.
Ramsbottom were nearly level within sixty seconds when Thomas Croughan had their only real chance in the entire game. However, the Tranmere Rovers forward was to drag his shot wide of Wyll Stanway’s goal.
The hosts could have increased their lead before the halftime whistle as goalscorer Maynard skied a chance over the crossbar before Neil Kengni, who was to pick up the sponsors man of the match award, crashed a volley from the edge of the area wide of Turner’s goal.
Throughout the first half, the snow continued to come down and was certainly leaving its mark on the pitch. So, at the halftime break, Savage was on the pitch with the groundsmen scraping the snow off the lines to ensure the game would be played to a conclusion.
If Macclesfield were good in the first half, then they were fantastic in the second half and, to be honest, if they wanted double figures they could well have done so, as they peppered Turner’s goal with several efforts.
The first came on 48 minutes when Maynard hit a strike from around 30 yards out that was deflected out for a corner. The resulting set-piece from Berry found his captain Laurent Mendy at the back post unmarked as he had got away from his marker but, he put the chance wide of the goal.
It was 2-0 on 51 minutes when Berry marked his birthday with a goal as he raced away from the Ramsbottom defence before rounding Turner on the edge of the penalty area to slide the ball into an empty net.
Maynard and Tre Pemberton then had chances to extend Macclesfield’s lead around the hour mark but, they only succeeded in putting their efforts into the grateful hands of Turner.
Finally, it was 3-0 on 68 minutes when Kengni burst into the area from the righthand side of the pitch and prodded the ball past Turner to make sure there was no doubt that the points were staying in Macclesfield.
The final goal of the afternoon came just two minutes later when Kengni’s low cutback hit the unfortunate Oscar Radcliffe and bounced into the net to seal all three points for Macclesfield.
Despite that being the final goal scored, the Silkmen had enough chances to get their fifth goal of the afternoon through the likes of Berry, Tom Clare and, Mark Duffy but in the end, four goals were enough for Macclesfield.
The result puts Macclesfield six points clear at the top of the league ahead of Runcorn Linnets who lead the chasing pack. However, Macclesfield will head to Clitheroe next weekend with someone else in the dugout as manager Dave McNabb stepped down after the game and, you can hear his reasons in an interview he did with the club’s media team shortly after the match.
Macclesfield: Stanway, Pemberton, Lee, Fensome, Mendy, Murphy (Lowe, 70), Kengni, Danns, Maynard (Clare, 77), Hardy (Duffy, 61) and Berry.
Unused subs: Bunney and Cowan
Ramsbottom United: Turner, Radcliffe, McKenna, Lugsden, Barlow, Fitzgerald (Collinge, 75), Hasler-Cregg, Croughan (Shannon, 56), Jennings (Donaldson, 46) and Murphy.
Unused subs: Ogunby and Osi-Efa
Attendance: 3,517
