It was not all bad news on the cup front at the weekend as the Youth Team progressed to the 3rd Round of the Youth Alliance Cup thanks to a penalty win over Hartlepool.
Town keeper Josh Welsby (pictured) saved the host's first three spot kicks. With Man of the Match Tom France, Adam Jukes and Vinny Mukendi having scored theirs it meant it was the Silkmen who progressed to the next round.
Early Pools had taken a first half lead as Macc started slowly. But the goal brought them into life and they proceeded to dominate the game. However it looked as if the North East might hold on for unlikely victory until leading scorer Vinny Mukendi out muscled his marker to run on to a Tom France through ball and calmly slot the ball past the advancing keeper.
With no extra time, the game went straight to penalties and manager John Askey was delighted with his team's second cup win over the week.
"In the end I thought we were worthy winners," explained John. "But we started very slowly. In the lads' defence I am sure it had a lot to do with the early start and the long coach journey. But their goal woke us up and from there I was pleased with both our effort and quality of performance."
"Tom France was excellent and we created numerous chances which should have seen us tie the game up in normal time. Penalties are always a bit of a lottery but our lads kept their heads and Josh stepped up to the mark. He's really come on as a player in the last few months and that's testimony to the hard work of coach Bill Gorton who works closely with both keepers."
"It's the furthest we've been in the competition and we've got as good a chance as any of going all the way to the final."
Football League Youth Alliance Cup Round 2 - Northern Section
Burton Albion 1 - 4 Shrewsbury Town
Chesterfield 2 - 1 Wigan Athletic
Hartlepool United 1 - 1 Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town won 3-0 on penalties
Rotherham United 1 - 3 Grimsby Town
Stockport County 3 - 2 Tranmere Rovers
Walsall 3 - 3 Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers won 5-4 on penalties
NEXT UP
The Silkmen resume League action on Saturday when Shrewsbury Town are the visitors to the Moss Rose - kick-off 11pm.
