A rejuvenated Macclesfield side grabbed their first victory of the season from the claws of defeat as they mounted a late Moss Rose comeback against a Carlisle outfit in turmoil.

Two late goals from Michael Rose and Peter Vincenti were almost gifted to them via lacklustre opposition.

The visitors were without Gary Liddle and Hallam Hope in the squad but the lineup John Sheridan opted to go with should have been able to beat their opposition.

It was an equal affair in the first half with Adam Collin saving well with his feet to deny Tyrone Marsh the opening goal in the best chance of the half, and Jack Sowerby fired a wicked effort off the bar in the opening stages but it was a stalemate at the interval. Notably, away centre back Tom Parkes came off with an early injury – forcing some movement in the back line.

Half-time: 0-0

Pushing forward, the Cumbrians broke the deadlock with around five minutes gone in the second half as Richie Bennett flicked on for Ashley Nadesan to bundle in at the home end. Despite the Silkmen protesting in numbers, the goal stood.

From then on, it was cat and mouse but when Sam Adewusi entered the fray at right back, the centre midfielder by trade unluckily gave a penalty away on his blind side – which Rose dispatched straight down the middle to equalise.

A draw would have been a fair result (all things considered) but Macclesfield smelt blood. Four minutes later and Carlisle buckled again. They allowed the hosts to charge forward with Harry Smith down the left wing to create what ultimately became an open goal opportunity for Vicente, who made no mistake to give his side the lead going into the closing stages.

The visiting supporters had suffered a torrid week at the club already and that meant for an understandably scathing reaction from them but their team failed to come together to challenge for any of the points as the final whistle blew to huge contrast inside the stadium.

Full-time: 2-1

Serious problems mount for Carlisle as their team and club spirit looks shattered and a difficult midweek trip on their hands, however for Macclesfield things are looking bright as they ended their 36-game EFL winless streak but work is still to do as they return to their stomping ground in three days time.

Home star man: Michael Rose

Away star man: Anthony Gerrard

Referee: Michael Salisbury

words Nathan Ridley, D3D4 Carlisle United correspondent

The Vale came into this game on the back of a 6-2 loss to Lincoln last weekend and were hoping for a response to get them back on track.

Oldham had the first real chance of the game in the 8^th minute when Hunt put a teasing ball across the goalmouth. Sadly for Oldham, no one was there to latch onto it. This was the Latics only real chance of the game for a little while, as negative tactics saw Port Vale push forwards regularly.

In the 12^th minute, the visitors should have scored but were denied thanks to the Great Dane Daniel Iversen.  The ball was played into the box and a classic scramble saw Iversen stretch for the ball before getting in the way of Smith’s close-range effort.

Oldham tried to force their way back into the game with chances from long range; in the 24^th minute Lang saw his shot fly inches over the bar and in the 32^nd minute Gardner nearly gave the home team the advantage. His long-range effort flew towards the goal only for Brown to make a smart save.

In the 36^th minute, Port Vale were awarded a penalty for a bizarre foul from Peter Clarke. The experienced centre half decided to focus his energy on barging into Hannant instead of chasing the ball and was not subtle in this decision. Tom Pope made no mistake from 12 yards.

In the 44^th minute, Oldham felt rather unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when Lang was bundled over when through on goal. A poor decision from the referee, who didn’t get any more popular with the home fans.

Oldham came out a lot more determined in the 2^nd half and nearly got themselves back on level terms just 3 minutes into the half. Nepomuceno put a good ball into the 6-yard area from a corner and it bounced off Rawlinson’s foot, onto the cross bar and down onto the line. Some in the home end thought it had crossed the line – the linesman wasn’t feeling so generous.

This chance was followed by an onslaught from the home side who did everything but hit the net. Chances fell for Gardner and Baxter but neither could hit the net.

Another fine chance came for Latics in the 76^th minute: Nepomuceno found Clarke free in the box, but the defender had his shot blocked – the referee also decided to award a goal-kick, which only helped his reputation with home fans.

There was another call for a penalty in the 87^th minute – Vassell brought down George Edmundson but nothing was given.

The visitors came out deserved winners following a lacklustre performance from the home side. Frankie Bunn has his work cut out if he’s to get the team bouncing back from these recent poor performances.

FULL TIME: Oldham Athletic 0 – 1 Port Vale (Pope 37’)

Attendance 4323 (449 Away)

Oldham Athletic

Iversen, Hamer, Clarke ©, Edmundson, Hunt, Branger-Engone (Nepomuceno 45’), Lyden (Benteke 70’), Gardner, Lang, Baxter, O’Grady

Port Vale

Brown, Joyce, Legge, Pope ©, Hannant (Dodds 81’), Rawlinson, Smith, Vassell, Conlon, Clark (Gibbons 84’), Whitfield (Kanu 75’)

words Chris Stringer, D3D4 Oldham Athletic correspondent

MATCH REPORT: Morecambe 0-1 Colchester United

Colchester Break the Stalemate – Eventually.

John McGreal’s Colchester United visited Morecambe today sitting eleven positions higher than their opponents in League Two and nine points better than off than Jim Bentley’s men. United were sixth, having been in the Play-Off positions for most of this season. They arrived after a local derby win over Southend in the Checkatrade Trophy during the previous mid-week and a victory over Stevenage last Saturday in Essex. The Shrimps’ form, however, has improved in recent times with just one loss in their last five games and three wins. Historically, their previous record against each other was perfectly even – a stalemate of four games played; four games drawn.

Under overcast skies, the first ten minutes saw the men in the green shirts probing; Barry Roche punching the ball and Jim Bentley loudly bellowing instructions from the home dugout. In terms of chances created, though, there was nothing to report. And so it went on. In Kane Vincent-Young on their left wing, the visitors looked like they had someone who could really play. Frank Nouble looked pretty tricky as well. So the first half was largely a rearguard action for the Shrimps. Josef Yarney excelled against wily old stager Steve Norris in the middle and Luke Conlan and he rarely looked seriously troubled. Up front, though, Morecambe offered very little threat and visiting goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin had little to do. He had not even one shot to deal with and the Shrimps did not win a single corner during the first forty-seven minutes. Just as it looked like the stalemate was going to last until the break, Colchester’s superior possession finally paid off. They passed their way up the field and through a Shrimps defence which continually backed off until the ball reached the feet of Courtney Senior and he duly placed a well- judged shot past Big Baz to put the men from Essex into a deserved lead. Morecambe were off the pace, midfield Maestro Aaron Wildig had an uncharacteristically poor half and returnee from injury Kevin Ellison was anonymous.

If the Shrimps were to stand any chance of getting back into the game, they would need to play more assertively and consistently in the second half. They duly did so and visiting goalkeeper Gilmartin was busier during the first ten minutes of the second half then he had been throughout the first.  After forty-seven minutes, Vadaine Oliver only just failed to connect with a cross from the Morecambe right and a Colchester hand appeared to me at least to help the ball away in their own penalty area. Four minutes later, Frankie Kent did brilliantly to clear another dangerous cross from the home team’s right. Just a minute later, Oliver did really well with some neat footwork to set-up Kev who seemed certain to score but he inexplicably failed to convert the chance. The Shrimps forced their first corner kick after almost an hour – the ball finally found its way to Luke Conlan who tried his luck from a long was out – and missed to Gilmartin’s left. Although Colchester had the occasional chance on the break, John McGreal’s men clearly intended to hang on to what they already had during the second half. The usual tactics – slow dead ball kicks by the goalkeeper; delays at every throw-in or free-kick awarded to them and all the other things that most football teams indulge in to waste time thus ensued.

But some of the play-acting and blatant cheating which they employed was beyond the pale. Harry Pell and Kent both feigned serious injury to eat up a bit more time but Conman Of The Day award must go to Tom Lapslie. He was clearly struck in the chest – not very hard at that – during the second half. But he rolled around clutching his wedding tackle as if he had been pole-axed for ages afterwards. When the referee insisted he had to go off, he then tried to argue that he had miraculously recovered. But only a couple of minutes later, there he was rolling around in apparent agony all over again, still clutching his nether regions. Shame on that man – there was absolutely nothing wrong with him. And if it was intended to fool the referee, it failed in any case: Mr Haines added-on five minutes at the end. So why bother? Before Lapslie’s pathetic play-acting, Vadaine came closest to equalising all afternoon for the Shrimps when his powerful header following a tremendous dribble and cross by the impressive Liam Mandeville hit the bar with Gilmartin beaten after 63 minutes. It was All Hands To The Pump at the back for United with eighty-four minutes on the clock when, with the ball pinging all round their penalty area, it could have ended-up anywhere. But try as they might, Morecambe couldn’t restore equality and Colchester managed to hang on to the slight advantage they had at half time.

They thus go back – with their commendably large number of fans – to Essex with another three points in the bag to guarantee them fifth place in League Two. The disappointing loss meant that Morecambe fell back again: just one place to eighteenth.

Morecambe: 1 Barry Roche; 2 Zak Mills; 16 Sam Lavelle; 3 Luke Conlan; 14 Josef Yarney; 27 Jordan Cranston(Y); 15 Aaron Wildig; 11 Kevin Ellison (Y); 9 Vadaine Oliver; 14 Liam Mandeville; 28 A-Jay Leitch-Smith .

Subs not used: 21 Mark Halstead; 19 Carlos Mendes-Gomes;  25 Ben Hedley; 24 Joe Piggott; 12 Jason Oswell; 23Tyler Brownsword; 29 Amilcar Codjovi.

Colchester United: 25 Rene Gilmartin;  2 Ryan Jackson;  4 Tom Lapslie (14 Brandon Comley 87 mins); 5 Luke Prosser (C): 6 Frankie Kent;  7 Courtney Senior (39 Aaron Collins 73 mins);  8 Harry Pell (Y);  9 Luke Norris;  18 Tom Eastman;  22 Kane Vincent-Young (11 Brennan Dickenson (Y) 77 mins);  45 Frank Nouble.

Subs not used: 12 Aaron Barnes; 16 Diaz Wright; 19 Mikael Mandron; 35 Ollie Kensale.

Ref: Andy Haines.

1839

words Roger Fitton, D3D4 Morecambe correspondent

MATCH REPORT: Wycombe Wanderers 3-2 Scunthorpe United

Wycombe Wanderers recorded successive home victories for the first time since February courtesy of a thrilling 3-2 victory over Scunthorpe United on Saturday afternoon.

Following up the 1-0 defeat to Coventry City last week, Gareth Ainsworth made two changes to his starting line-up with Fred Onyedinma coming in for the injured Matt Bloomfield and Paris Cowan-Hall replaced Randell Williams as Wycombe adopted a more conventional 4-4-2 formation. Stuart McCall brought in Andy Dales, James Perch and George Thomas as he looked to end a run of two successive defeats for his injury ravaged squad.

It looked like it would have an effect as the visitors took the lead with barely twenty seconds on the clock. They moved the ball well down the right-hand side from the kick-off before the ball was switched to Ryan Colclough. Making his way into the area, Colclough made space before shooting low into the net. Wycombe’s first touch of the ball was from the re-start and with five minutes on the clock they fashioned their first opportunity. Curtis Thompson and Cowan-Hall linked up well down the right before the latter’s cross was headed wide by Craig Mackail-Smith. Just two minutes later though and United doubled their lead. Some good play through the middle resulted in Dales racing through as the flat-footed Wycombe defence looked for an offside flag. It didn’t come, Dales fed Stephen Humphrys and he slotted the ball past Wycombe goalkeeper Ryan Allsop.

Wycombe were shell-shocked and Scunthorpe full of confidence as they played the ball around the pitch nicely in search of another goal. They almost got it as well when after 21 minutes, Dales and Humphrys linked up again resulting in the United number 10 forcing a good save from Allsop before firing over from the re-bound when he perhaps should have scored.

That proved to be crucial as five minutes later, Wycombe pulled a goal back. Patient build-up play on the edge of the box resulted in Adebayo Akinfenwa laying the ball off to Dominic Gape. Gape, whose last goal was the one that sealed promotion back in April, fired the ball into the top corner with what was Wycombe’s first effort on target. It didn’t take long before they registered another effort on goal, but Cowan-Hall’s effort from range was well saved by Jak Alnwick in the United goal.

As the last third of the half played out, Wycombe couldn’t capitalise on some Joe Jacobson set pieces while the left-back was involved in an important clearance at the other end.

However, it was all to play for in the second half and just eight minutes into it, Wanderers were level. Onyedinma, who has struggled somewhat to make an impact this season, seemed to pose more of a threat in the 4-4-2 formation and he produced a moment to savour, cutting in from the right and curling the ball into the corner as Alnwick could just stand and watch.

There was little by the way of chances following the equaliser and Scunthorpe rarely ventured into the final third. With less than fifteen minutes to go though, the game opened up again with Akinfenwa heading over from a corner on 76 before the Wycombe fans were shouting for a penalty when Onyedinma went down a minute later. In truth it looked as though Onyedinma lost his footing before any potential contact and referee Alan Young rightly waved away the appeals. Cowan-Hall then did find the net following knock down from a set-piece, but the whistle had already gone for a foul by Akinfenwa on Alnwick.

With eleven minutes remaining a seemingly crucial moment occurred when Wycombe were reduced to ten men. Some sloppy play at the back from Jason McCarthy allowed Ike Ugbo to steal in. Allsop came racing out and chopped Ugbo down. It was a bad foul and Young deemed it worthy of a red card. Allsop could argue that the touch from Ugbo was heavy and had taken it away from the goal, plus there were covering defenders. It was none the less poor from Wycombe and the impressive Cowan-Hall was substituted to allow Yves Ma-Kalambay to take up the goalkeeper’s jersey.  The resulting free-kick was charged down before Colclough fired wide.

Scunthorpe may have sensed a chance to win it, but on their last visit to Adams Park – a 1-1 draw way back in December 2013 – they had conceded a late goal after Wycombe had been reduced to 10 men. History was about to repeat itself.

The time it had taken to bring on Ma-Kalambay plus a lengthy stop for injuries to Charlie Goode and Cowan-Hall resulted in nine minutes of injury time and early on in that period, Akinfenwa shot just wide from distance.

Three minutes later, and Wycombe found a winner. In similar fashion to the build-up to the incident which saw Allsop sent off, Scunthorpe captain Rory McArdle was sloppy in possession at the back and Mackail-Smith stole in. He had a lot of work to do but brilliantly brought the ball under control as he raced through to find the corner of the net. He then headed for the corner of the stadium as he was mobbed by his teammates amidst scenes of joy and disbelief amongst the home faithful.

It had been 16 years, 10 months and 19 days since Wycombe had won a game in which they were two goals down. That was a 5-3 win over Brentford that was nearly called off due to a potential player strike over ITV digital back when Mackail-Smith had just emerged from the St. Albans youth team and Onyedinma was still in his first term at primary school.

That wait wasn’t quite over though as there were still four minutes remaining. Ma-Kalambay was booked for taking too long over a free-kick and come added on time to the added-on time, United had a series of corners. George Thomas seemed to rush them though and Wycombe managed to clear them with relative ease as they held on to seal a memorable win.

It was not a brilliant defensive display but vastly improved in the attacking third and reminiscent of last season where Wycombe won no fewer than seven games by a 3-2 scoreline. The fact that none of the goals came from set-pieces or long balls after Ainsworth openly admitted to trying new things and switching the formation is evidence that Wycombe are more than a one-dimensional side. In the same way that recent defeats have had some positive aspects, most notably the way Wycombe had fought back, a victory such as this should also be assessed for the negatives and defensively they still need to sharpen up. The same goes for Scunthorpe who are the sixth highest scorers in the league but contain the leakiest defence.

They’re starting to slip towards the danger zone while Wycombe have put some breathing space between them and the bottom four ahead of the visit of Rochdale on Tuesday night.

A delighted Gareth Ainsworth celebrates with his players at the end.

words Phil Slatter, D3D4 Wycombe correspondent