Monday 27th August 2001

Nationwide League Division 3

Attendance:  2, 681

The game began evenly and it took until the 9th minute before the first shot on goal, Tankard firing a 25 yard free kick straight at Martin after White had been fouled.  A couple of minutes later Macc's Chris Priest fired over after a great Robinson tackle rebounded to him.  Just before the quarter hour a great Williamson header released White, but the power in the tall strikers shot was reduced by a challenge and the ball trickled back to Martin.  However, just a minute later the Stags were deservedly ahead and it was top scorer Chris Greenacre who did the trick.  Corden hit a fine left wing cross to the far post where Disley was on hand to head back for Greenacre to hook the ball home.  Five minutes later and it was two with Corden again heavily involved.  Picking the ball up on the left the Stags winger neatly found Tankard whose long ball over the Macclesfield defence found Disley who headed over the advancing Martin for his third headed goal in three days!!  The Stags were now on fire and ripping through the Macc defence.  Disley again in the thick of it found Greenacre but he was forced wide and his cross was easily cut out.  Corden then hit a great ball to Lawrence who should have squared to White who would have been clear however he was caught in two minds and the chance was lost.  On the half hour Macc ventured forwards but Tracey's shot was easy for Pilkington.  The Stags hit back straight away and Lawrence this time hit a great cross which found White at the far post but the strikers shot hit the side netting.  The game then settled into a quiet spell with the only danger to the Stags goal coming after a rare mistake from the otherwise excellent Williamson, giving the ball away on the edge of the box but Glovers shot was comfortably saved by Pilkington.

Half Time:  2-0

The 2nd half started in great fashion for the home side, with the killer third goal within two minutes of the restart.  Tankard put the ball in from the left and a poor defensive header found Greenacre who headed back across goal for White to head home from close range.  The Stags were again in top gear, Corden with a clever chip over the wall from a Stags free kick found Greenacre but this time the striker didn't connect cleanly and Martin was able to save.  A minute later Disley's header released White who mis-kicked his first attempt but then neatly cut inside and fired a low shot at Martin.  The Stags were now playing the fluent football that has marked their season so far, and only a desperate punch away from Martin prevented White getting on the end of Lawrence's cross after another great passing move.  Greenacre twisted clear inside the area and found White whose cross was smothered by Martin.  At the other end Robinson was penalised for hand ball on the edge of his own area and a curling free kick from Lightbourne slipped just wide of Pilkington's goal with the keeper beaten.  However, the game was over just a few minutes later when Disley notched his 4th goal in two games.  Lawrence found Greenacre whose attempted shot fell for Disley who volleyed past the stranded Martin, a fine finish.  Lawrence again switched play well, finding Corden whose first time shot flew just wide.  The Stags then replaced the tiring White with Bacon and the striker made his presence felt on 83 minutes.  Williamson picked the ball up on the edge of the area and fired a terrific shot which hit the underside of the bar, Bacon following in was then clearly pushed and the Assistant on the far side gave the penalty after referee Danson missed the foul.  The Stags players beckoned Disley, on a hat-trick to take the penalty instead of regular taker Greenacre.  Sadly Disley was denied his hat-trick by Martin's save with his legs.  The game nearly ended with a great Corden goal, the winger again cutting inside and this time Martin produced a fine one handed save.

So a superb performance from the Stags and the end result could really have been double the 4-0 it finished.  The young Stags midfield totally dominated the game, all four on top form.  Boss Bill Dearden was naturally delighted with the win and with the last two games saying "We've got 6 points which we thoroughly deserved but I'm disappointed we didn't win by 6 or 7 but I'm pleased we kept a clean sheet".  On the penalty incident Dearden made it clear what he thought "We've had an inquest about the penalty and he (Disley) won't take any more, even if he's on a hat-trick!!".  Disley himself was in buoyant mood saying "I feel really confident in front of goal at the moment and think I'm going to score in every game".  Man of the match is again a tough call with the four midfield players again excellent, however, Disley scored twice, set one up and was excellent throughout so has to win the award.

Man of the Match:  Craig Disley

Report by Rob Wheldon

Click here for Martin's report

Stags:  Pilkington 6, Hassell 7 (Asher 80, 6), Tankard 7, Robinson 7, Reddington 7, Lawrence 8 (Williams 84, 6), Williamson 8, Disley 9, Corden 8, Greenacre 7, White 7 (Bacon 73, 7).  Subs:  Pemberton, Bingham.

Macc:  Martin, Hitchen, Tinson, Ridler, Adams, Keen, Priest, Tracey, Eyre, Glover, Lightbourne. Subs:  Munroe, McAvoy, Wilson, Askey, O'Neil

Referee:  P Danson - 5