Coca Cola League Two

BRIAN Horton warned Macclesfield fans in his programme notes not to expect a goal-feast against Yeovil - it was the only thing he got wrong all afternoon.

The manager's tactics were perfect as the Silkmen became the first team to complete a league double over the leaders this season.

The home side out-played the Somerset outfit in every department and fully deserved the victory which took them up to fourth place, four points behind the three teams level at the top.

Macc's midfield trio of Alan Navarro, Kevin McIntyre and the outstanding Neil MacKenzie did not let the Glovers settle and cut off the supply to the dangerous Phil Jevons. Indeed, such was their dominance in the middle of the pitch that the league's top-scorers - recognised as the division's best passers - resorted to the long-ball approach at times.

The Moss Rose club have now won four of the their last five games, picking up 13 points from a possible 15 and scoring 13 times.

A looping Matthew Tipton volley and two second-half goals from Graham Potter ensured the hosts were in complete control until Yeovil pulled one back in the 89th minute, courtesy of a Danny Whitaker own goal.

Macc started brightly but Aaron Davies' deflected shot nearly handed Yeovil, who had pushed Premiership side Charlton so close in the FA Cup last week, an undeserved lead.

Macc did have the ball in the back of the net on 36 minutes when Jon Parkin turned brilliantly on the edge of the area and slid the ball past Weale, only for the assistant referee's flag to deny him his 22nd goal of the season for off-side.

But the Moss Rose faithful did not have to wait long for the opener. Just two minutes later Parkin shot broke to Tipton and he directed a well-controlled volley into the top corner. That gave the Silkmen a deserved half-time lead and it was doubled within just 25 seconds of the restart. MacKenzie's effort was blocked on the line and, in the resulting scramble, Potter drove the ball home.

The stadium announcer incorrectly awarded the goal to Tipton but there could be no doubt about the wing-back's second strike on 83 minutes. McIntyre's inswinging corner was only partly cleared and Potter drilled the ball through a crowded penalty area to put the result beyond doubt.

In between Potter's two goals Tipton, MacKenzie and Parkin all went close for the hosts, though Alan Fettis did brilliantly to deny a Kevin Gall header.

Parkin should have made it four at the end, but Yeovil had the final word when Fettis only succeeded in pushing Davies' attempt into back-tracking substitute Danny Whitaker and the ball trickled in.

• MACCLESFIELD: Fettis, Potter, Carragher, Harsley, Parkin, Tipton, MacKenzie (Whitaker 87), Morley, Navarro, McIntyre, Swailes. Subs not used: Miles, Wilson, Sheron, Briscoe.

• YEOVIL: Weale, Skiverton, Way, Johnson, Gall (Rose 61), Jevons, Amankwaah, Lindegaard, Guyett (Odubade 75), Davies, Stolcers (Caceres 45). Subs not used: C.Miles, Collis.

Referee: Eddie Ilderton (Tyne and Wear).

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