4 – 0 WIN FOR THE SILKMEN

Goals from Kieran Murtagh, Waide Fairhurst and two from Jack Mackreth earned the Silkmen a 4-0 win at Ebbsfleet in front of the Premier Sports cameras.

The game was barely 100 seconds old when the Silkmen had a good chance to score as Waide Fairhurst was fouled just outside the area by former Silkman Stefan Payne. Kieran Murtagh stepped up and hit a low drive past Edwards in the Ebbsfleet goal, in at the bottom corner to make it 1-0.

It could have been 2-0 even before the tannoy announcer had named the Silkmen`s first scorer when Fairhurst found Barnes-Homer in the box, but the 20 goal man saw his low drive saved.

After Macc`s blistering start, the game calmed down and it took until the 20th minute for the Silkmen to be calling for a penalty as JP Kissock looked to have been brought down by Preston Edwards in the Ebbsfleet goal, but the referee adjudged it to have been a dive, and Kissock saw a yellow.

The home side were not proving much of an attacking threat, but Tom Phipp came close with a vollet from a half cleared cross which whizzed just wide of the post. Four minutes later it was Neil Barrett who couldn`t find the target from just outside the area.

Waide Fairhurst`s shot on the turn only found Edwards before Josh Scott should have scored for the home side as he met a Craig Stone cross, but could only glance his header wide of the post.

For the Silkmen, Ryan Jackson shot well wide after doing the hard work with a good run before the game reached half time.

There was a blow for the Silkmen a few minutes into the second half as Nat Brown was caught late by Joe Howe, and although he limped through the next few minutes was forced off to be replaced by Carl Martin.

The skipper was eventually subbed in the 52nd minute, handing the armband to Sam Wedgnury, but the Silkmen netted the second just five minutes later.

the Silkmen had already gone close when Ryan Jackson`s pace got him free to cross to Barnes-Homer, who couldn`t quite steer the ball goalwards, but a few seconds later it was Waide Fairhurst who picked up Mackreth`s ball into the box and somehow, under pressure, managed to poke the ball home whilst floored by a challenge from the home `keeper.

And within minutes it was 3-0 with the goal of the game from Jack Mackreth. Picking up a brilliant ball from Murtagh down the right flank, he cut inside before fooling the `keeper into thinking he was going to square the ball to Barnes-Homer. That opened up the slightest of gaps at the near post and he flicked the ball into that spot with the outside of his boot.

the game was over as a contest but Barnes-Homer should have extended the lead after more good work from Mackreth found him unmarked on the penalty spot, only to somehow fire his shot over the bar, but Mackreth was on hand to make it four himself.

This time it was Dean McDonald who was the creator with an inch perfect ball over the shoulders of the defence. Mackreth ran onto the ball and drew the `keeper before slotting coolly in at the far post.

He could have taken home the match ball soon after, but his neat chip over the `keeper just drifted wide of the post.

Source: http://www.mtfc.co.uk/news/article/ebbsfleet-0-4-silkmen-010213-634093.aspx