Leamington continue poor run in Macclesfield defeat

On a Tuesday evening where Diwali fireworks were illuminating the sky in the distance, fans of both Leamington and Macclesfield were hoping for a similar showing from their teams. The Brakes welcomed the visitors to the Your Coop Community Stadium for their second home game in four days on a mild Tuesday night.

This was the maiden game between Leamington and the Silkmen, as the Brakes had never played the original iteration of the team nor the side who reformed in 2020. Macclesfield have since scaled the pyramid at a rapid pace. While National League North was always going to prove a tougher challenge, they have acquitted themselves well so far and sat twelfth prior to kick off.

Macclesfield came into this game off the back of their first home win in many weeks and were hoping to deny the home side this same joy. Meanwhile, Leamington have in recent weeks been forced to look over their shoulder as the gap to the relegation zone narrows.

The challenge for Leamington was to get into a game which they had scarcely had a sniff in

Survival was the nature of the game early on for the Brakes, as Macclesfield raced out of the blocks. It looked for all the world as if deadlock would be broken a few minutes in, until a brilliant goal-line block by Demico Burton saved the day. Two excellent opportunities followed in quick succession, as a corner flashed across the box, before away captain Paul Dawson produced a fine save from Ravenhill down to his right from edge of the area.

A deflected shot from striker Danny Elliot then skidded wide for a corner, leaving Brakes hanging on for dear life a few minutes in. Only after seven minutes were they granted some respite. The game then settled slightly, although Rollin Menayese did send a header narrowly wide for the Silkmen. Tim Berridge’s promising cross was the Brakes first meaningful entry into the opposition box, but the Brakes returned empty-handed from the attack.

Meanwhile, Isaac Buckley-Ricketts’ runs were causing problems for Leamington’s backline, who had to resort to fouling him at times. Elliot was then played through but his angle to goal was angle was always tightening, leading to a relatively comfortable save for Rogan Ravenhill.

From an inswinging cross from the left Justin Johnson looked as if he had the goal at his mercy, but the ball bounced off Burton into the grateful hands of Ravenhill. He then went down for physio treatment allowing some respite for the Leamington players who had until then had more chances to show their industry than their creativity.

Macclesfield’s chokehold on the game led to the opening goal after thirty-five minutes, as Elliot ignored Buckley-Ricketts overlapping run to slalom towards the box and produce a composed finish into the right-hand corner which left Ravenhill rooted to the spot. The Silkmen contingent who had travelled in good numbers were rightfully delighted. The challenge for Leamington now was to get into a game which they had scarcely had a sniff in.

The changed nature of the game forced Leamington further forward, as the dangerous Elliot was almost sent through. He then sliced an effort cross wide, his efforts to grab a quickfire double proving futile. The Brakes were similarly starved for possession after the goal, with it clear that Macclesfield wanted to kill the game. Another close range shot from Elliot was then well blocked by Tim Shorrock. The three added minutes of a half in which the Brakes had been under near constant pressure and produced precious little themselves passed without incident.

The second half started in the same fashion as the first, as Johnson’s shot took a deflection on its way to going narrowly wide. The Silkmen were not eager to sit back and offer Leamington a route back into the game. A dangerous cross had to be diverted for a corner by Dan Meredith, which was blocked on the goal-line.

Meredith proved his utility as an outlet, being involved in a neat Leamington passing move which was curtailed by the offside flag. The pendulum then swung firmly back towards the Silkmen. Dawson’s header from the corner which required the fingertips of Ravenhill to save it. From the ensuing corner, the home goalkeeper repeated the trick with an even better save. All hopes Leamington still had of getting a result were thanks to his brilliance, which Brakes fans have got used to seeing.

The play still belonged to the Silkmen, and a volley by Lewis Fensome was just the latest chance which was begging to be steered home. Paul Holleran made the Brakes’ First substitution of the game with around fifteen minutes of regulation time left, as Ant Lynn came on for Luke Shaw to boost the side’s firepower. Soon after being introduced, he looked in discomfort, but he continued on. A further roll of the home dice was Will Shorrock replacing Berridge.

In all, the only thing close about the game was the score-line

Amidst further Macclesfield pressure Dylan Mitchell recovered well after giving the ball away with a slide tackle in his own box, although the Silkmen forward line really should have been more clinical. Soon after, the midfielder then had a plausible shout for a penalty waved away, as he felt he received a push after controlling a high ball.

Elliot, who so easily could have had a hattrick, sent a shot wide from edge of the area to left corner of the goal. Joe Clarke then came on for Mitchell as Brandon Lee replaced Duffy for the away side, with little time left.

The announcement of five minutes of added time was a cause of optimism, upon the announcement of which Burton embarked on one of his trademark driving runs to draw a free kick from 30 yards out. Nothing came from the free kick or the next one, as Adam Walker’s edge-of-the-area shot was blocked.

Macclesfield used their final slot to replace Buckley-Ricketts with Danny Whitehead as time was running out. The last action would end up almost doubling the away side’s lead, as Elliot raced clear, only for Burton to make yet another heroic defensive intervention.

In all, the only thing close about the game was the score-line, as the visitors succeeded in dominating most aspects of it from start to finish. Saturday’s away game against Oxford City now takes on added importance, as the evening’s results mean Leamington are only one place above the drop zone.