Macclesfield and District FA
Macc & District FA Youth Cup Final. Macc Youth 0 Wirral 1
By Matt Eagles
Mar 16, 2009, 20:27

District FA Youth Cup Final

At Macclesfield Town FC

Macc Youth     0    Wirral Youth  1

Macc Youth put on a battling display against  Wirral and having matched them in every department over 90 minutes lost to  a spectacular goal by Jonathan Clampett in stoppage time when extra time seemed certain. It was harsh on Macc who, already without inspirational skipper Max Williamson lost stand in captain and hero of their previous encounter with Wirral, Matt Nee through injury at half time.  Despite being on the backfoot in the opening minutes it was Macc who had the best opportunity as  James Annetts cleared off the line for the visitors.

 Domonic Hughes worked tirelessly in midfield  breaking up play and providing his team  with a platform on which to build , but Macc were guilty of not making the most of  their possession as three times they gave  the ball away cheaply from set plays. Julian Wetherall kept the Wirral defence occupied  but keeper Paul Davies was rarely troubled  and when he was called upon, he  proved more than capable. There was plenty of endeavour  from both sides and no quarter given  as  there were two  lengthy stoppages , as  first Dan Quinn  for Macc and  then Gary Knight required treatment but chances were few and far between .

With no score in the first half  and a trophy at stake Wirral came out the stronger in the second half led by captain Luke Hughes , Macc seemed strangely subdued without a target man upfront and relied on Weatherall’s pace down the middle . Dan Povell and Tom Rudnick  at the heart of Wirral’s defence were rarely troubled . Josh Sneddon , handed the captain’s armband for the second half tried to re-ignite  his troups and they might have rallied in extra time but they weren’t given the opportunity as Clampett smashed in an unstoppable winner  with seconds  remaining to send  Wirral absolutely delirious as they celebrated  in a huge pile.