New Boss Same Old Dross: Macclesfield Town 2-1 Harriers

New Head Coach David Hockaday saw first hand the enormity of the task facing him as Harriers gifted the points to Macclesfield.

Harriers' longest post-war winless streak now stands at 21 games as their failure to defend set pieces saw the game effectively over before half time.

The new Head Coach had sprung a surprise in his first starting selection with Dean Snedker returning in goal, and had it not been for him the scoreline could have been much worse, and loan signing Jordan Murphy starting in attack alongside Reece Styche.

Things could have been different, perhaps, had Zaine Francis-Angol's 15th minute shot after exchanging passes with Luke Maxwell had more power and tested Shwan Jalal in the home goal but as it was his effort curled back in to an easy spot for the keeper to take.

On the half hour Danny Whitaker was left with acres of space to run into before hitting a 25-yard shot that Snedker turned around the post for a corner.  From the corner Harriers failed to clear and after Tony Diagne's effort had been cleared off the line by Kevin Toner the same player was quickest to react and fire the loose ball home.

Eight minutes later an almost carbon copy goal doubled The Silkmen's advantage; Snedker beat out Danny Whitaker's shot, George Pilkington got up at the far post to head down the resulting corner and Danny Rowe fired home.  In stoppage time a string run form Styche could have been good for Harriers but his shot was straight at Jalal.

After the break, and a talking-to from Hockaday, Harriers had a little more purpose in their play and Jalal had to be alert to keep out Jordan Tunnicliffe's looping header from Joe Clarke's lofted free-kick.

Murphy looked lively in attack and forced a save from Jalal before scoring his first goal for the club with 13 minutes remaining; like Harriers earlier in the game Macclesfield failed to deal with a corner, Clarke's cross eventually falling to the feet of the youngster who lashed it past the keeper.

Harriers should have pressed on for an equaliser but the seemed to have surprised themselves by scoring and didn't appear to know what to do next.  Callum Hassan was introduced for his debut and could have made an instant name for himself but when in on goal he lost track of the aerial ball and Town were able to clear.