Three well taken goals earned the Silkmen a confidence boosting win at Victoria Stadium this evening.
The Silkmen's senior pre-season schedule came to an end with a 3-0 win over Northwich Victoria.
The Silkmen took the lead through Ross Draper in the 11th minute and waited until the 75th before Matthew Tipton scored the second, and his second in 24 hours. Colin Daniel completed the scoring five minutes later.
The game kicked off after a well respected minute's silence and the Silkmen started brightly with Emile Sinclair clipping the post with a header from an early corner.
Jon Brain was in early action shortly afterwards as the home side had their own corner, and Aaron Burns headed the ball goalwards. But Brainy stretched to palm the ball over the bar.
Just 11 minutes into the game the Silkmen took the lead. A great move down the right saw Emile Sinclair crossing to Colin Daniel at the far-post. His cushioned header back to Ross Draper on the edge of the area was volleyed home crisply, wrong-footing the 'keeper and giving him no chance.
Vics then won a couple of corners and the second was cleared as far as Luke Horrocks, but the midfielder blazed over the bar from 25 yards.
The home side were getting into the game and Aaron burns went close again after a break down the right he shot across the face of goal.
But whilst the home side ended the half with more of the possession they were limited to long range shots which barely threatened the Silkmen's goal.
Lee Bell replaced Paul Bolland at half time and Burns was again testing Brain a few minutes in from a free-kick. Last season's ever-present showed his class shortly afterwards as half-time Vics sub Jonny Allen found himself clean through. He tried to round Brain before slotting a shot past him, but found the outstretched gloved hand, which palmed the ball away from goal and to Carl Tremarco who cleared.
The Silkmen then should have scored shortly after as good link-up play between Rooney and Reid saw the former crossing low to Colin Daniel, but a last second tackle stole the foot from his tow before he could tap home.
Triallist Tyrone Kirk replaced Emile Sinclair and showed some exciting skill to jink past a couple of defenders before laying off to Wright who was tackled. Matthew Tipton came on for John Rooney just before Vics Wayne Riley shot wide of the target from close range after a vicious cross from the left.
With 15 minutes remaining, Matthew Tipton proved that he has still got the ability that netted him his 50 goals for the club with an excellent finish. Stood outside the area, the ball was played in to his feet with his back to goal. In a single move he turned on the ball and fired an unstoppable shot to the far post.
Ross Draper almost doubled his tally hitting the bar after wrong-footing a defender in latching on to a good through-ball from Ben Wright.
The Silkmen made it 3-0 with another excellently taken goal five minutes later. Colin Daniel picked up the ball just in the opposition half and advanced into space. He used his pace to beat a defender and powered a low drive into the bottom left corner from 25 yards.
Ben Wright was replaced by Kyle Wilson who almost hit a fourth with a powerful volley that went over the bar with a few seconds remaining.
