Macclesfield Town 2 Accrington Stanley 1

Last updated : 29 March 2008 By Footymad Previewer
Macclesfield Town took a giant step towards securing their Football League status courtesy of two goals from 17-year-old apprentice Shaun Brisley.

Straight after the game the youngster, who was born and brought up just 400 yards from the Moss Rose stadium, was cleaning boots and sweeping floors, but on the pitch he enjoyed the cheers of the home fans.

He opened the scoring on 15 minutes when he wrapped his left foot round a Danny Thomas cross to hook home a low shot to the far corner from 15 yards.

But Stanley equalised on 32 minutes when Jamie Tolley gave the ball away in midfield, allowing Shaun Whalley to release Ian Craney who picked out the far corner from 15 yards.

But Brisley wasn't to be denied and on 38 minutes he ghosted in at the far post to head home a Jamie Tolley corner.

Macclesfield should have extended their lead after the break. On 48 minutes Thomas, with only the keeper to beat, scooped the ball wide of the far post from 15 yards and moments later saw his low drive clawed wide by Stanley keeper Kenny Arthur.

Then, on 50 minutes, Thomas floated down the left flank only for Francis Green to scuff wide the chance from six yards.

Stanley were reduced to ten men on 70 minutes when on-loan winger Aswad Thomas stupidly threw the ball in the face of Brisley from only two yards.

Even so it was the visitors who finished more strongly and moments later they might have equalised when Jay Harris forced a stunning save from Jonny Brain.

They again went close in the 87th minute, but Robert Grant's 20-yard drive from the angle skidded past the upright.