Match ends, Crewe Alexandra 3, Macclesfield Town 0.
CreweCrewe Alexandra3MacclesfieldMacclesfield Town0
Jordan Bowery's double and a superb strike from Charlie Kirk saw Crewe coast to a 3-0 win over Macclesfield in the Cheshire derby.
The Silkmen found themselves two down in the first half after Kirk curled a lofted finish into the far corner for Crewe's 16th-minute opener and Bowery towered above the keeper to head in Kirk's cross after 40 minutes.
Had it not been for Kieran O'Hara's heroics, the margin of the Railwaymen's victory would have been greater.
The on-loan Manchester United keeper kept out Bowery's first-time shot with his legs and blocked a near-post effort from the striker late in the first half.
Macclesfield's build-up play was neat and tidy, but they were let down by their finishing.
Jordan Ponticelli rolled a finish into the arms of Ben Garratt and the on-loan Coventry City striker's debut got worse when he was stretchered off soon after with a knee injury.
After the restart substitute Nathan Blissett added some presence, but his tame effort at Garratt summed up the afternoon for Macclesfield, who are still looking for their first win.
Crewe were much sharper and after O'Hara again denied Bowery with his legs, the keeper was left stranded when James Jones dinked a cross for the unmarked Bowery to nod in his second in the 68th minute.
Report supplied by Press Association.
Line-ups
Crewe
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Garratt
- 2Ng
- 5Ray
- 12NolanSubstituted forHuntat 19'minutes
- 33O'ConnorBooked at 58minsSubstituted forNichollsat 79'minutes
- 11AinleySubstituted forRaynesat 70'minutes
- 8Jones
- 15Wintle
- 20Kirk
- 9Miller
- 10Bowery
Substitutes
- 6Raynes
- 7Porter
- 13Richards
- 14Nicholls
- 16Lowery
- 24Reilly
- 29Hunt
Macclesfield
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1O'Hara
- 19Pearson
- 5KelleherSubstituted forVincentiat 79'minutes
- 6GrimesBooked at 83mins
- 3Fitzpatrick
- 18MaycockSubstituted forWelch-Hayesat 45'minutes
- 17Evans
- 26PonticelliSubstituted forBlissettat 36'minutes
- 23Whitaker
- 16Napa
- 10Smith
Substitutes
- 4Lowe
- 8Marsh
- 12Taylor
- 13Blissett
- 14Welch-Hayes
- 20Vincenti
- 22Arthur
- Referee:
- Carl Boyeson
- Attendance:
- 3,915
Match Stats
Home TeamCreweAway TeamMacclesfield
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away23
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away11
- Corners
- Home6
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Crewe Alexandra 3, Macclesfield Town 0.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Danny Whitaker (Macclesfield Town) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt saved. Malachi Napa (Macclesfield Town) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Post update
Delay in match Charlie Kirk (Crewe Alexandra) because of an injury.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Danny Whitaker (Macclesfield Town) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Corner, Macclesfield Town. Conceded by Ben Garratt.
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Attempt saved. Malachi Napa (Macclesfield Town) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Post update
Attempt saved. David Fitzpatrick (Macclesfield Town) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Attempt missed. Charlie Kirk (Crewe Alexandra) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Booking
Jamie Grimes (Macclesfield Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Michael Raynes (Crewe Alexandra) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Jamie Grimes (Macclesfield Town).
Post update
Corner, Macclesfield Town. Conceded by Ryan Wintle.
Substitution
Substitution, Macclesfield Town. Peter Vincenti replaces Fiacre Kelleher.
Substitution
Substitution, Crewe Alexandra. Alex Nicholls replaces Kevin O'Connor.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Malachi Napa (Macclesfield Town) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Corner, Macclesfield Town. Conceded by Kevin O'Connor.
Post update
Attempt saved. Fiacre Kelleher (Macclesfield Town) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Foul by Nicky Hunt (Crewe Alexandra).
