Wirral Almost Pull Off Cup Shock

The Wirral squad benefitted from players returning from long term injury (MATT LOON and JAMES REEVE) and players returning to the game (JOE MURRAY and CHRIS SPEED) - unfortunately MATT BROWN is out through long term injury.
Wirral played downfield against the wind in the first half and with the first play of the game passed the ball down the line to make progress but thereafter did not have the opportunity to repeat this. On 5 minutes, Macclesfield took the lead with a penalty by Lewis Barker from 20m, this was followed by a series of penalties in favour of the away side but only one attempt at goal was taken and missed.
The home side continued to absorb the pressure, although Macclesfield did knock on with the try line at their mercy. On 23 minutes, the away side increased their lead with continued pressure on the Wirral line when Matt King scored from close in; the try was converted by Barker. 0-10. It wasn’t until the 26th minute that Wirral reached the Macclesfield 20m area and after having given away 5 penalties, the situation changed with a number of penalties now awarded in Wirral’s favour, the first of which was converted by JAMES ANNETTS. (3-10 30minutes). Wirral were now back into the game and a half break by Wirral was thwarted when a short pass was harshly deemed to be forward.
Nevertheless Wirral playing against the breeze in the first half, Wirral were pleased to turn round at half time with a deficit of only 7 points. In the second half, Wirral used the wind to make considerable ground and in the next 20 minutes were rewarded with 3 penalties through JAMES ANNETTS to give Wirral a 12-10 lead (60 mins). At this stage, Wirral had made 2 substitutions, CHRIS BURROWS on for CHRIS SPEED (injury) and JULIAN HAIGH for MATT LOON. Macclesfield went down to 14 men when Eliot Brierley was sin binned for a dangerous tackle.
Although Macclesfield missed a penalty, they came back and exerted pressure again on the Wirral line when Mike Finnemore forced his way over the line and Barker converted to restore Macclesfield lead at 12-17 (68 mins). STEVE PENDERGAST came on for CHRIS HUGHES.
Wirral then enjoyed their best period of the game with an astute kick to the Macc. 20m area where they exerted pressure on the away side line and after a number of thrusts were repelled, Wirral re grouped on the Macc. line and a charge by PAUL LEWIS enabled him to pass inside to ROB PEARL who crashed through the gap to score 15m from the posts. Unfortunately the conversion hit the upright and bounced out to leave the scores at 17 apiece (75 mins).CHRIS TYSON came on for PAUL LEWIS.
With time running out, back came Macclesfield and aided by a couple of penalties made ground to the Wirral 20m area and again close control by the away side forwards enabled them to advance steadily and Dave Marwick was eventually rewarded with a try, the conversion was missed and with that the referee blew for time, 17-22.
With limited possession, Wirral had put in a sterling performance especially when one bears in mind that 12 months ago there was a 3 league gap between the teams. This performance by Wirral augurs well for the season ahead and we look forward to see you all at the Memorial Ground next Saturday.
Richard McNeil