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Stockport County 2 Macclesfield Town 0

Simon Smedley
26/ 3/2008

COUNTY showed plenty of class and determination as they comfortably saw off Cheshire neighbours Macclesfield on Good Friday.

In front of a bumper Edgeley Park gate of almost 8,000, the Hatters shrugged off plenty of strong-arm and strong challenge tactics from Keith Alexander’s side to register their sixth straight victory.

Jason Taylor grabbed both goals, doubling his tally for the season, as Jim Gannon’s men edged temporarily to within just five points of the much sought-after automatic promotion slots.

With skipper Ashley Williams leading the side once again in his last game before linking up with the Welsh senior squad for the first time, County started Friday’s derby clash like a house on fire.

Liam Dickinson fired wide, despite appearing to be hauled back by Macc defender Sean Hessey, after just four minutes, then Tommy Rowe’s bullet header was superbly beaten away by visiting ‘keeper Jonny Brain.

It was no surprise when the Hatters went into a 10th minute lead. After a corner was half-cleared, Gary Dicker tried a shot which was blocked by Hessey, but there was Taylor who gleefully smashed home the loose ball from 10 yards.

Many inside the stadium were eyeing a thumping County win at that stage, but the next decent chance didn’t come until the 27th minute when Dickinson fired wide following Anthony Pilkington’s tempting cross.

Macc’s best chance of the whole game came on the half-hour, but Martin Gritton disappointingly headed a super cross from Terry Dunfield straight into the grateful grasp of County ‘keeper John Ruddy.

The Hatters deservedly doubled their lead less than a minute into the second half. Dickinson’s wicked cross from the right was too hot for Brain to handle, he dropped the ball, and again there was Taylor who mopped up the loose ball from around 12 yards.

County continued to dominate, but they couldn’t add any more goals to their tally.

Pilkington’s shot was blocked by Jamie Tolley, Rowe slid in but fired over, then Dickinson’s deflected shot was saved by Brain.

Brain also denied Dickinson and Taylor, before late on deflated Macc could only manage disappointing and harmless long-range efforts from subs Scott Spencer and Gareth Evans.

County sub Michael Raynes almost added the coup-de-grace for the hosts in the last minute, but his volley from Shaleum Logan’s inswinging corner-kick flew narrowly wide.

Dominant County fully deserved to march on to another three points, it was just a shame that Pilkington left Edgeley Park on crutches after a crude second-half challenge from Tolley.