A report from Macclesfield

This is the report of last night's game from the Offical Macclesfield Website:

Two first half strikes gave Macclesfield a 2-0 win over Conference high flyers Hereford this evening, ensuring their passage through to the Northern Final of the LDV Vans Trophy.

Despite an unspectacular second half, the Silkmen defended their lead to beat the Bulls and get to within touching distance of a money spinning trip to the Millennium Stadium.

Danny Whitaker saw a lot of the ball in the opening exchanges and had the first real chance of the match when he was played through by Martin Bullock.  However, Hereford keeper Craig Mawson did well to stay on his feet long enough to tip the midfielder's chip away from danger.

Whitaker wasn't to be denied though and gave the Silkmen the lead four minutes later. The ball bounced favourably for him following a defensive mix up between Alex Jeannin and Tamika Mkandawire, and he smashed in from only six yards out.

Hereford looked fairly dangerous on the break but despite efforts from ex-Cameroon striker Guy Ipoua and the impressive Danny Carey-Bartram, Alan Fettis didn't have a save to make in the first half.

Moments before half time, Kevin McIntyre collected Clyde Wijnhard's header and turned his defender just outside the box.  It looked as if has chance had gone, before he teed up Paul Harsley who fired into the far corner to give Macc the crucial second goal.

The visitors made a substitution at half time and came out looking far stronger after the break, with Carey-Bartram firing a good chance over in the 49th minute.

The Silkmen also survived a strong shout of handball against Danny Swailes in his own area, the ex-Bury man appeared to handle a cross from the left but the referee waved away appeals from Hereford players and fans.

Ipoua missed another few half-chances and Macc had opportunities of their own to stretch the lead later in the half, but despite strong pressure from the visitors at times, it never looked likely that they would mount a comeback.

Alan Fettis almost embarrassed himself five minutes before the final whistle when substitute Graham Evans caught him in possession following Alan Navarro's backpass. The ex-Northern Ireland stopper's blushes were spared as it deflected across goal and he was able to scramble it clear for a throw-in.

Against a side well placed for promotion into League Two, Macc put the 5-0 capitulation at Northampton behind them to progress to face Carlisle in the Northern Final, and also recorded their first clean sheet of the year in the process.

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