Macclesfield and District FA
Macc & District FA Saturday Cup Final
By Matt Eagles
May 10, 2009, 21:01

Macclesfield & District F.A. Saturday Cup

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 FA Saturday Cup Final  at Moss Rose

Club AZ    5        Congleton Vale    0

Club AZ claimed the Macc and District FA Cup for the third year in a row as they proved too good for Vale at Moss Rose. Vale will be desperately disappointed as they deserved more and possibly  under performed on the day  but AZ were clinical  and two goals in the final minutes were icing on the cake after a workman like performance.

Vale's Matt Swift battles for possession

It wasn’t a classic by any means but AZ hadn’t conceded a goal at any stage during the competition so goals were always going to be at a premium. Matt Swift and Tom Jackson tried to break  the deadlock but too often their attacks broke down with AZ captain and centre half  Andy Forbes in fine form .Indeed it was Forbes himself who  opened the scoring on thirty two minutes as he joined the attack  at a corner and managed to turn the ball in past  keeper Simon Farrell with his thigh. Vale were still in the game  but  Neil O’Brian  doubled AZ’s lead a minute before the break getting on the end of a Lee Sharples freekick.

Harry Wheatman in action for Club AZ

The second half began well for Vale with  Craig Beech going close but the tide turned on the hour when  AZ’s bean pole   striker Paul Haydock  managed to  nick the ball past  Farrell  as both players  challenged for a through ball and guide the ball into an empty net to make it 3-0. With half an hour remaining there was still time for Vale to get back in the game but they needed a goal and try as they might it wouldn’t come. To compound their misery Craig Scott side footed home to make it 4-0 with two minutes remaining and in stoppage time centre half  Ian Hines stooped low at the far post to head home number five to secure the victory

Steve Whitehead and Chris Ogden