AFC Macclesfield close the gap

League Two

AFC Macclesfield closed the gap at the top to just two points as they beat league leaders Lostock Gralam 5-0 at home.

Macclesfield were quick out of the blocks and a ball played from the back to striker Lee Malkin who superbly controlled the ball before he flicked it on to Jack Bannister who went one on one with the Lostock keeper and slotted the ball into the bottom corner of the Lostock net with only 47 seconds on the clock.

Three minutes Macclesfield were unlucky not to be two up when Jonny Cavanagh forced the Lostock keeper in to a good save. After missing another couple of good chances, Macclesfield finally doubled their lead in the 40th minute when Chris Allen found himself unmarked in the box and he fired the ball home.

Lostock started to get back into the game and put pressure on Macclesfield but with opposition players flooding forward,the ball was intercepted by James Wheeler before being played forward to Lee Malkin who raced past their defence and calmly made it 3-0. Lostock simply couldn't handle the pace.

Macclesfield weren’t finished and after the break they continued to press but squandered good chances. A fourth goal didn't look like it was going to happen but after 71 minutes, Malkin doubled his tally.

Captain and leading goal scorer Greg Mathers made it five when he came off the bench to hit a trademark rocket shot into the middle of the goal. This win puts the home side two points behind Lostock with four games in hand over their opponents.

Warrington Town Reserves moved into joint second place with AFC Macclesfield following a convincing 6-1 win at home against Litherland Remyca Reserves. This puts the top three sides all on ten wins with Warrington and Macclesfield having only lost one game each.