United 1 Macclesfield Town 0
Match Sponsor: Nelson Birdwatchers
Matchball Sponsor: City Plumbing Services
Man of the Match: Kevin Nicholson
United deserved to win this match by a much bigger margin than the eventual single goal victory that they claimed over Macclesfield at Plainmoor this afternoon. April 2010 will go down as one of the most impressive months in United's recent history with five wins, a draw, 13 goals for, only one against and five clean sheets. With both teams well safe from any relegation issues it was an improved league position that was at stake and although the scoreline suggests otherwise Macclesfield could have had no complaints if the score had been three or four more.
There was just the one change for United and it was enforced; with Guy Branston suspended for the remaining three matches of the season it meant a recall for Kieran Charnock at centre back alongside Mark Ellis.
The first shot of the game came from Mustapha Carayol in the third minute when he tested Brain with a right foot effort that was tipped around the post. United had been on top straight from the off and Elliot Benyon brought a second early save from Brain with a 20 yard shot that was pushed out for another corner.
It was a very bright start by the Gulls and Mustapha Carayol brought a comfortable enough save from Brain as United almost attacked at will.
United were playing some good football with Mustapha Carayol involved heavily. Macclesfield were under the cosh for most of the opening period and hadn't give Michael Poke anything to do inside the first quarter of an hour although Brown sent a free header over from a left sided corner but all the positive work was being done by United.
Brain was called into action again when Elliot Benyon produced a classy chest control and volley after collecting a pass from Lee Mansell and shortly that after that moment Brain brilliantly saved from Scott Rendell who benefited from good work down the right by Carayol and a square pass from Benyon but the United striker will be disappointed not to have scored.
Carayol was seeing plenty of the ball and on occasions was leaving the Macclesfield defence way behind. Another fine dribbling run from Muzzie ended with a good pass to Elliot Benyon who controlled well but was again denied by Brain who blocked with his feet.
United had another opportunity to open the scoring when a ball in from the left by Zebroski was dummied by Benyon and Scott Rendell coming in at the near post hoisted the ball over the crossbar from six yards out. United had done everything right in the first half apart from score.
Half-Time: United 0 Macclesfield 0
United began the second half as they had the first by creating a chance and yet again Jon Brain in the visitor's goal denied the Gulls. Chris Zebroski beat his man down the left and had his left wing cross deflected out to the edge of the area and into the path of Scott Rendell but Brain stuck out a hand to deny the United striker's right foot effort.
The second half was a slightly more even contest and United were finding it more difficult to create the same amount of scoring chances that they did in the first period, at least for a while. United were doing everything right but actually put the ball in the back of the net and there were a number of strong performances around the pitch for the Gulls including Mark Ellis, Lee Mansell & Kevin Nicholson.
United were dominating the stats count when it came to corners, attacking throw-ins and chances but the all-important stat in the goals column was unbelievably empty after an hour of play. Chris Zebroski headed wide from eight yards after a flick on to the far post and it was looking like one of those days for the Gulls.
Mustapha Carayol had to be replaced in the 77th minute by Eunan O'Kane after picking up an injury and the substitution almost proved a genius decision as Eunan struck a low right foot drive on the angle which Brain deflected wide for a corner.
United were peppering the Macclesfield penalty area now and only some brave blocking by the Macclesfield defence was denying United. In the end the pressure had to tell and it was the skipper who broke the deadlock. Nicky Wroe exchanged passes with Chris Zebroski midway inside the Macclesfield half and then carried the ball forward before hitting a low right foot drive from 22 yards that beat Brain inside the left hand post. It was no more than United deserved.
Goal: United 1 (Wroe 85) Macclesfield 0
There was still time for Eunan O'Kane to give a marvellous cameo of simple but technically proficient football and spread the ball around like a veteran and for Scott Rendell to hit a post with a right foot shot in the final moments; it wasn't his day.
Final Score: United 1 Macclesfield 0
Yet again United have shown themselves to be more than a match for their opponents in League 2 and while we could all do with a rest part of you wishes the season still had a couple of months to run.
