Macclesfield & District Sunday Football League
MSL - League Cup Semi-Final
By Matt Eagles
Apr 26, 2009, 20:46

MSL Review- Sunday 26^th April

League Cup Semi- Final

Pack Horse     2      Macc Boys Seniors    1

Pack Horse will play Boarhound in the final of the league cup after defeating a brave Macc Boys side at Bollington Recreation ground .

Macc Boy's Simon Gibbons

It was by no means a classic but  you couldn’t question the endeavour of any of the players on a hard bobbly surface.

Anybody thinking this was going to be a walkover for the league champions was in for a shock as Macc Boys took the lead after only three. Alastair Stevenson launched a long throw into the penalty area , Chris Coppenhall’s challenge unsettled veteran keeper Jason Knight and Eddie Roberts gratefully smashed home from five yards as the ball   ran loose. Pack Horse  were level on eleven minutes though when centre half Andy Forbes rose through a crowd of players to nod home a Harry Wheatman freekick. With Craig Jones and Chris Hadfield strong at the heart of Macc Boys’s defence Pack’s chances were limited but they took the lead ten minutes before half time again from a set piece on the left , this time it was a corner from Andy Quigley that was sumptuously volleyed home by  Craig Scott . Keeper Joel Baker blamed himself admitting he should have come for the cross but such was the quality of the finish, no goalkeeper would have saved it.

Craig Jones kept Jonno Campbell quiet

The second half followed the same pattern as the first, plenty of effort but a real lack of clear goal scoring opportunities . Eddie and Josh Roberts worked hard up front for Macc Boys and Chris Coppenhall played out the game despite carrying a niggling injury which would surely have kept him out of the final had Macc Boys managed to make it. Their  challenge wasn’t helped as they lost several key players through injury  but despite  a late rally keeper Jason Knight was rarely called upon.

For Pack Horse , Harry Wheatman  and Craig Scott looked most likely to score but  as the minutes ticked by the game rather faded and as  referee Peter Gregory blew for full time the celebrations were rather muted.  

Harry Wheatman takes on Sam Corlett