BY JONATHAN EELES

Both Leek Town & Macclesfield entered the game high on confidence with both having opening day wins on the previous Saturday. There was a bumper crowd at Harrison Park for the first competitive meeting in over 30 years but it was the Silkmen who edged the game with Leek handing them the initiative with some uncharacteristic defending in the second half.

A huge crowd of 2024 witnessed a hugely entertaining game with Macclesfield in their away strip of pink and Leek Town in their neon green away kit of green. The referee did not like the clash of socks (pink and white) and Macclesfield without spares socks or an alternative kit meant Leek had to revert to their away kit.

Leek fielded an unchanged line up from the game against Bootle, with Jessy Bavanaganga coming back into the side as Regan Brown was unavailable. Macclesfield were forced into two changes, with Tre Pemberton and Nicky Maynard chosen to start over the injured Jacob Hanson & Neil Danns - this did not weaken the Silkmen such is the depth of their squad with seemingly infinite resources at this level of football.

There was a slight delay to the kick off as the Club and supporters paid their respect to local Chesire FA stalwart Colin Leese, who had played for Leek in the 1950s and refereed 100s of games locally, with a minutes applause.

Leek started brightly attacking the Macclesfield Road end and were aware an early free kick when Kengi was adjudged to have fouled Louis Keenan, the resulting free kick was delivered into the box and when the ball was laid back to Tom Carr his shot was blocked by the Macclesfield defence. Leek continued to control the play with the impressive midfield trio breaking up play and distributing to Keenan and Wara. After some good play on the right Wara delivered a low cross to the near post to Tom Carr, whose resulting header was defended for a corner.

Another freekick was delivered to the far post, where Olly Harrison met the ball with a header only for Pitaluga collect. Leek built from the back with Dan Trickett-Smith receiving the ball in midfield to find Rob Stevenson, his trickery back heeling the ball to the onrushing Scott Wara whose excellent shot was tipped over by Pitaluga. Leek were controlling the play and limiting Macclesfield to very few opportunities.

The resulting corner again putting the Macclesfield defence under pressure. It was Macclesfield turn to attack and with a short corner from Berry to Duffy they looked to cross the ball, but good work by Stevenson disposed him with Trickett-Smith picking the ball up and finding Tom Carr, he immediately counter attacked only to be cynically brought down by Curran on the half way line resulting in a deserved yellow card.

Macclesfield finished with a flurry with a counterattack, down the left with Berry finding Fensome whose pace showed and crossed the ball for Keenan to defend at the back post. Macclesfield were enjoying more of the play with Maynard picking up the ball in midfield and finding Kengi whose shot was collected by Sam Booth. Leek answered with neat build up play from Davidson who played the ball into Stevensons feet, a through ball to Carr resulted with the shot blocked.

Macclesfield began to rally and advanced through Kengi who disposed with a crunching tackle from Grocott, Keenan picked up the loose ball to find Davidson whose near reserve ball to Stevenson resulting in a cross going begging across the face of the Macclesfield goal. Macclesfield continued to build from the back with a sweeping ball to Kengi, this was played back to Mendy whose long distance effort was comfortably saved.

HT LEEK TOWN 0 - MACCLESFIELD 0

The game restarted with a chance immediately falling to Trickett-Smith he advanced to the edge of the area and tried a volley chip just over the cross bar. Leek continued to press and build when in possession, good combinations from Davidson & Reeves found Trickett-Smith again who shot this time was tipped over for a corner. Leek weren't to be denied and a good corner from Keenan was met at the near post by Trickett-Smith who flicked the ball into the net to score, leaving the Macclesfield & Liverpool on loan keeper scrambling for the ball.

Macclesfield rallied and grew more into the game with a switch in formation to a diamond and Pemberton delivered a dangerous cross to the far post, this was a taste of things to come but on this occasion the cross was defended. Moments later Duffy delivered the ball into a similar area with Josh Ryder having to clear the ball, his miss kicked clearance spinning into the net rather than out to safety. There was a small delay in play as a smoke bomb that had been thrown from the Macclesfield fans was cleared.

Leek gathered themselves and immediately went on the counter with Tom Carr shooting after a long run. A further press found the advancing Grocott unleash a fierce shot just past the Macclesfield upright. As Macclesfield advanced Davidson delivered the ball to Trickett-Smith whose flick header was delivered into the path of Carr, his run was then halted as Pitaluga defended the ball with both players clashing - the referees whistle blew and despite appeals for a penalty a free kick was awarded to Macclesfield. The game was on a knife edge was both teams looked for a winner.

A short throw from Macclesfield found Pemberton on the left who delivered an almost identical cross to the previous one, this time the ball was left by Ryder under pressure from Maynard and with the faintest touch a goal was scored, momentum had now swung to the Silkmen. This seemed to knock the stuffing out of Leek who began to defend deeper, Neil Baker made substitutions with Bavanaganga replacing Wara and Saxon for Davidson.

Leeks disappointment was completed late on to and after the defenders failed to clear the ball resulting in a shot that was spilled by Booth with Maynard collecting the ball to score his second from close range.

Leek more than matched Macclesfield until the equaliser and will be left to rue what might have been. A great game of football with the score line slightly flattering the Silkmen - Leek will now face Atherstone Town on Saturday in the FA Cup.

FT LEEK TOWN 1 - MACCLESFIELD 3

Leek Town line up as follows

1. Booth

2. Wara replaced by Bavanganga (78)

3. Keenan

4. Grocott (c)

5. Harrison

6. Ryder

7. Carr

8. Reeves

9. Davidson replaced by Saxon (75)

10. Trickett-Smith

11. Stevenson

Substitutes : Morris, Short, Tomlinson (unused)

Attendance : 2024

Man of the Match : Marc Grocott