Macclesfield Town 3 Chester City 1

Dec 28 2008 by David Triggs, Chester Chronicle

TWO goals inside the final 15 minutes condemned the Blues to their first defeat in four games at Moss Rose this afternoon.

After falling behind to an early strike, the visitors drew level through leading scorer Ryan Lowe. But the Silkmen produced a strong finish and stole all three points late on.

Blues boss Mark Wright made two changes to the side which defeated Accrington on Boxing Day – one tactical and one enforced.

Jay Harris was drafted into midfield in place of the suspended Damien Mozika, while Shaun Kelly came in for Richie Partridge as Wright reverted to his preferred 3-5-2 formation.

City found themselves a goal behind after only six minutes. James Jennings was allowed far too much time and space on the left, and his chipped cross was headed in at the far post by Macclesfield’s on-loan Wrexham player Nat Brown.

Chester enjoyed their fair share of possession as the half wore on but it was the hosts who had the next opportunity to score. Striker Gareth Evans cut in from the left on 25 minutes and curled in a right-footed drive which dipped just over John Danby’s crossbar.

Five minutes later, Kevin Ellison went on the charge for Chester but his low, right-footed drive was held by Macclesfield keeper Jon Brain.

City’s leading scorer Lowe saw a rasping volley deflected for a corner by Richard Walker on 37 minutes as the visitors cranked up the pressure. The flag kick was taken short to Lowe, whose low cross eluded everyone in the penalty box apart from Brain, who got down smartly to parry the ball to safety.

The Blues emerged for the second period in determined mood and pinned the Silkmen in their own half for long periods. There were 56 minutes on the clock when City drew level through the in-form Lowe.

Ellison played in Jay Harris on the edge of the box and when the ball was deflected into the air off Jennings, Lowe was on hand to curl a neat first-time volley past Brain from 20 yards.

The visitors were forced to make a change in the 69th minute when Ellison went down with what appeared to be a hamstring injury. He attempted to carry on, but it soon became clear he would not be able to so Eddie Johnson was sent on to partner Lowe up front.

After looking like the side most likely to go on and win, it all began to fall apart for Chester on 76 minutes. Sub Martin Gritton had a close-range shot saved by Danby and when the ball was put back into the box by Danny Thomas, it hit the hand of defender Kelly.

Referee Andy D’Urso, the former Premiership official, pointed to the spot and Evans made no mistake from 12 yards to make it 2-1.

Brain pulled off a top-drawer save from Lowe moments later as Chester threatened an instant response. But the final nail in their coffin was hammered home by Gritton six minutes from time. The ball was played to him by Brown and the big striker applied the finishing touch from eight yards.

Macclesfield: Brain, Reid, Walker, Morgan, Hessey, Bell (Deen 86), Brown, Dunfield, Jennings (Thomas 73), Evans, Yeo (Gritton 63). Subs: Tolley, Rooney. Goals: Brown 6, Evans 76 pen, Gritton 84.

Chester: Danby, Linwood, Roberts, Kelly, J Vaughan, Harris (Partridge 80), Barry, Hughes, Wilson, Lowe, Ellison (Johnson 69). Subs: Rule, Rutherford, R Williams. Goal: Lowe 56.

Referee: Andy D’Urso (Essex).

Attendance: 2,219.