Macclesfield 3-0 Clitheroe 13/08/22

Clitheroe knew this was going to be a difficult opener against the pre season title favourites and so it proved. The Blues were followed by 150 out of the crowd of over 3,000, but in the blistering heat and on an unfamiliar plastic surface, they found it hard to handle their full time opponents.

The game started at a fast pace and barely let up, albeit a number of the Clitheroe players found it hard to keep their feet on the tricky surface. The home tactics of overlapping wing backs mixed with raking cross ball passes was a potent mix and most of the attacks early on came down their right. Bailey Sloane at left back had his hands full and several early free kicks in dangerous positions had the Clitheroe fans look on nervously.

Jamie Edwards was the one Clitheroe player who was making some inroads into the opposing half but it was no surprise when Macclesfield took the lead after 18 minutes with a neat slalom through the Clitheroe defence and a deft finish from the top drawer. Clitheroe had their first chance minutes later but a header from a deep cross failed to trouble the keeper.

However, waves of home attacks kept coming and on 36 minutes, Ross Dent was penalised for a soft foul on the edge of the box. With the whole ground expecting a shot at goal, the clever dink to the left wrong footed everyone and the striker easily scored his second.
One minute later, matters got worse as ex Marine player Kengni burst down the right, slipped the defender and slid a cross along the box for substitute Maynard, who until recently was playing for Bristol City and Tranmere Rovers.

As the first half ticked down, Clitheroe had their one big chance of the game as a free kick was quickly taken and Edwards spooned the ball over with the goal at his mercy.
The second half was more even although the Macclesfield pressure barely let up. Chris Thompson had to make several first class saves in the half and we had the unusual sight of an appeal on the tannoy for a referee to run the line after the match referee took a ball in the face from a quickly taken free kick. Max Cane came on late in the half and his pace caused problems, but when the whistle went, the expected tough first game had come to pass.

Chris Thompson, Jamie Edwards, Billy Priestley, Ross Dent, Danny Wilkins and Sefton Gonzales were the only players that started the last game of last season, though Cameron Lancaster, Joel Byrom and Max Cane were named on today's subs bench along with Richard Baker who kept his place on the bench. Terry Cummings and Bailey Sloane returned from injury to start in defence. Callum Leigh and Reece Webb-Foster made their debuts, as did Waqas Azam from the subs bench.

Team : Chris Thompson, Terry Cummings (Waqas Azam), Bailey Sloane, Callum Leigh (Richard Baker), Billy Priestley (c), Lee Pugh, Jamie Edwards, Danny Wilkins, Sefton Gonzales (Max Cane), Ross Dent (c), Reece Webb-Foster. Subs - Richard Baker, Max Cane, Waqas Azam. Not used - Cameron Lancaster, Joel Byrom.