The Silkmen's pre-season trip to Northern Ireland got off to a good start with a 2-1 victory against IFA Championship side Larne this evening.

In unseasonable cool conditions Keith Alexander opted for a very young side for the clash at Inver Park with most of the players who had featured against Blackburn Rovers the previous night rested. Jordan Hadfield was handed the captain's armband for the evening in a team that lined up as follows:

GK - Brain

Defence - Jennings, Flynn, Brisley, Reid

Midfield - Harvey, Millar, Hadfield, Blackman

Forwards - Yeo, Evans

Substitutes made - None

An estimated crowd around the 100 mark, including a few intrepid Silkmen, watched an evenly contested first half that ended goalless. Moments after the break the Silkmen took the lead thanks to an own goal but that was immediately cancelled out by the home side who went straight back up to the other end to equalise.

Without ever looking in danger the tightly fought encounter looked to be heading for a draw until Simon Yeo popped up with his first goal for the club. With the clock on 90 minutes the forward reacted quickest after the home keeper spilt the ball for a typical poacher's goal.

Speaking immediately after the game manager Keith Alexander was happy with events. "It was a good workout tonight for the young lads and I thought they put in a very solid performance. It's the perfect start to our mini-tour, a result we can take into our game against Distillery on Thursday."