REPORT: MACCLESFIELD 1-1 UNITED

PICTURE: Phil Jones

United battled to a hard-earned point at Macclesfield following a 1-1 draw at the Leasing.com stadium on Tuesday night.

John Rooney had spectacularly put the home side in front before Remaye Campbell equalised from the penalty spot in the second half.

As early as the fifth minute, Mason Frizelle benefited from a loose ball in the box – a result of Jordan Hallam’s dangerous free-kick - and poked beyond home ‘keeper Dylan Berry before seeing his effort thumped off the line by a desperate Lewis Fensome.

Another dangerous delivery, this time from the returning Massiah McDonald out on the right evaded everyone in yellow with Berry flapping at nothing as United continued to put their full-time hosts under some early pressure.

Some excellent work down the left from McDonald then saw Laurent Mendy cautioned for hauling the midfielder down before Jack Thomas’ resultant free kick was unconvincingly parried behind by Berry and away for another ineffective corner.

Thomas then found himself in behind after some neat football in-and-around the area but could only poke low at the smothering Berry who held at the second attempt and Josh Barnes’ free-kick had the nervous 'keeper sprawling with the ball dropping inches beyond the far post.

However, for all the visitors’ hard work and endeavour Macclesfield went in the break in front when Rooney, taking aim from half-way, spotted Preston off his line, and duly delivered over the head of the backtracking ‘keeper, seconds before the whistle blew for the interval.

A superb save from Preston then prevented Paul Dawson from doubling Macc’s lead seconds after the restart but it wasn’t long before United were deservedly level.

Only referee Jonathan Chadwick had seen an apparent handball in the home box with Frizelle causing panic and Campbell stepped up to send Berry the wrong way to silence the 2400 strong home crowd and parity was restored.

The home side enjoyed the lion’s share of possession in the second period but rarely trouble Preston, with those in front of him exemplary in their defending by thwarting everything that was thrown at them; Barnes on the lunge denying Alex Curran’s strike with ten minutes remaining.

A late free-kick threatened to derail all of United’s hard work, but Frizelle’s superb headed clearance, followed up by Toby Ritzema’s fantastic block, ensured a warranted point went back to Nottingham.

Next up, we welcome Workington AFC to Greenwich Avenue on Saturday afternoon (3pm).

UNITED: Preston; Roma (c), Barnes, Frizelle, Ritzema; Lewis (Thornhill 83’), McDonald, Thomas, Hallam; Litchfield (Charlie Wakefield 90'), Campbell
SUBS (not used): H. Wakefield, Goddard, Holmes

ATT: 2446 [10 away]