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MACCLESFIELD (home) 30/09/06 Hereford increased Macclesfield Town’s winless run to twelve matches with a one-goal victory at Edgar Street. Another dour encounter was eventually settled with the game’s only real moment of quality ten minutes from time thanks to an excellent goal from Alan Connell. Until that point, the game had nil-nil written all over it and although the visitors threatened an equaliser right at the death, the Bulls were able to hold on relatively comfortably. More entertaining than the match itself was referee Alan Wiley’s unique interpretation of the laws of the game. Wiley used to be of Premiership standard – but there again, so was Neil Redfearn. Wiley allowed play to continue when blatant fouls were committed, yet halted play on numerous occasions when contact was minimal or non-existent. There was such an occurrence in the very first minute, with Martyn Giles adjudged to have fouled Matthew Tipton on the edge of the penalty area. The resulting free-kick by Kevin McIntyre brought an excellent full-length save from Bulls keeper Wayne Brown. After an initial flurry of goalmouth action, with Giles having a header blocked and Connell firing narrowly wide, the game petered out into a scrappy encounter. Brown got a hand to a shot that looked to be heading wide but was otherwise untested. Likewise the Silkmen’s goalkeeper, Tommy Lee, had nothing to do other than to gather a soft shot from Stuart Fleetwood. Whilst it would be an exaggeration to say that this was a game of two halves, Hereford at least created more chances in a better second half display. Connell’s superb pass sent Fleetwood away, but the youngster shot straight at the advancing Lee. Former Torquay and Bournemouth striker Connell was at the forefront of most of United’s best moves, and his looping header after a corner was cleared to him forced Lee to gather under pressure from the recalled Andy Williams. As in the first half, Brown made a fine save from a free-kick, this time a right-footed effort from Tipton, yet the Bulls custodian will be thankful for a goal line clearance from Dean Beckwith for keeping the scoresheet blank. Martin Bullock’s cross-shot was missed by Brown and Beckwith had to get back and hoof the ball away from the onrushing Carl Regan, who would have been in for an easy tap-in. It was man-of-the-match Connell that eventually settled matters near the end. The impressive Giles sent Simon Travis away down the left, and his pass inside found Connell in the box with his back to goal. He then turned his man superbly and hit a shot across Lee and into the bottom corner of the net for his first Edgar Street goal. Minutes later Connell had an even better opportunity to score, but his shot from close range was deflected over the bar: the striker claimed the deflection came off the hand of a defender. The opportunity had come about after substitute Tim Sills had released Fleetwood down the flank with an intelligent pass. Macclesfield now introduced two more strikers to the fray as they searched for an equaliser but, although two efforts were cleared away by some desperate Hereford defending in a goalmouth scramble, one never looked likely. It was clear to see why the Cheshire outfit have struggled so far this season, as their passing was often somewhat wayward and Brown was only seriously tested from set pieces, rather than shots at goal from open play. The three points were very welcome from a Hereford perspective as it helps them consolidate their mid table position, but the lack of a midfield general is a worry. The strikers are capable of scoring given the right service: sadly that has not been so forthcoming this season. Team: Brown, McClenahan, Beckwith, Mkandawire, Giles, Travis, Rose, Connell, Purdie, Williams (sub Sills), Fleetwood. Subs not used: Thompson, Gulliver, Jeannin, Webb. Star man: Alan Connell
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