Adam Yates reports from the MTA…
Macclesfield spoiled the opening day party at Crosby as they kept Marine at bay and bagged a second half goal in the process.
It took mere seconds after the whistle for the Silkmen’s net to bulge but an offside flag ruined the early celebrations for Marine’s Charlie Jolley who was adjudged to have fouled keeper Christian Dibble.
After an extensive Macclesfield onslaught, new signing for Marine, forward Jordan Hodkin found himself suddenly at the halfway line, ball at his feet and Dibble racing frantically back to his line but Jordan’s long range lobbed effort ultimately went wide.
It was one way traffic following those two attempts as Macclesfield put the screws on the Mariners. Finlay Shrimpton nearly sent the 500+ strong away support into hysteria as he lost his defensive man and curled one over the head of Jack Barrett who was only saved by his own crossbar as the ball thumped down onto the goal line and finally away from danger.
The Silkmen continued to pummel the Marine defence from the second half whistle with close quarter chances that were blocked by the hosts back line. Marine found little by way of opportunities bar an impressive strong low forced Conor McAleny shot that was parried by Dibble.
The Silkmen finally got the goal they deserved after Finlay Shrimpton fired high into the net past Barrett from close range following a post corner goalmouth scramble whereas Marine will rue the few but solid chances they had earlier on.
Marine (4-3-3): Barrett, Abankwah, Drysdale, Butler, Doyle, Whelan, Darby (Hilton 80′), Hodkin (Potter 65′), McAleny (McDonald 77′), Sinclair Smith, Jolley (Kattah 80′)
Subs not used: Wardle, Huby, McIntyre.
Macclesfield (4-3-3): Dibble, McFayden, Osborne (Lacey 73′), Borthwick-Jackson, Wilson, George, Duffy, Heathcote, Shrimpton, Ustabasi, Dyer
Subs not used: Riva, Chapman, Elliott, Dos Santos, Parny, Ayub
Referee: Bilal Moosa
Star man: Finlay Shrimpton
Attendance: 2,145