Shrewsbury justified their tag as pre-season favourites with a comprehensive 4-0 defeat over a very lack lustre Silkmen side at the Prostar Stadium this afternoon.
With Keith Alexander giving debuts to Ahmed Deen and Paul Morgan, it was the home side who took the early initiative, Ben Davies coming close on seven minutes when he saw his long distance effort go narrowly wide. Moments later Town's record scorer Grant Holt came unbelievably even closer to notching an opening goal where it not for Jon Brain who had to move sharply to save his powerful header..
With Macc seeing little of the ball Davies again went close from a direct-free kick and also saw an effort cleared off the line by Richard Walker following a mistake from Jon Brain.
But the Silkmen's luck eventually ran out when Shane Cansdell-Sherriff got away a stinging drive well outside the area. With Brainy beaten the ball thudded against the bar only to hit the unfortunate keeper and rebounded into the empty, the harshest of own goals.
Half-Time: 1-0
With Izak Reid coming on for skipper Sean Hessey, any hopes of a fight back were dashed just five minutes into the second half when the home team were awarded a penalty. It stemmed from a poor clearance from Paul Morgan, who when attempting to atone for his error hauled down Davies. Grant Holt opening his account for the Shrews from the resultant kick, placing it to the right of Jon Brain.
A further change was made shortly after the hour mark with Gareth Evans replacing Francis Green. But the pattern of the game continued, albeit the home side were not as potent as in the first 45 minutes.
Then, after a brief lull, Holt showed just why Simpson had paid so much money for him. Receiving a long ball with his back to goal, he controlled the ball on his chest, turned and volleyed a 25 yarder which was only inches wide of the target.
That seemed to spark the Shrews back into life although the manner in which we conceded the 3rd and 4th goal will have disappointed the management team and the watching 355 travelling fans.
With just over 12 minutes to go Graham Coughlan planted a firm header beyond Brain from Kevin McIntyre's corner, and then six minutes later - from another flag kick - the big defender headed back across goal to give Dave Hibbert a tap-in.
It was a sorry looking Silkmen side who left the pitch at the final whistle. And those heading back to Cheshire will think back to the 4-0 drubbing against Darlington on opening day two seasons ago, a result that set the pattern for the season ahead.
One game certainly does not warrant a crisis but our two home games this week suddenly have taken on more importance, both representing a chance for the players to show that today's result was just a blip against a very good side who will be pushing for promotion this year.
Full-Time: 4-0
