Harriers robbed at the death

The Harriers dropped two points at Macclesfield this evening after leading for eighty nine minutes through a Callum Gittings goal, his second in consecutive games.  With the Reds holding on against a home side onslaught Paul Turnbull, the Macclesfield captain, finally got the ball into the net at the far post.

The game had started with an unchanged Harriers side from Saturdays FA Cup win against Sutton.  Danny Jackman continued at left back as Mickey Demetriou sat on the bench following his return from a one game suspension as Jamie Grimes made way for him.  Amari Morgan-Smith started up front alongside Michael Gash against his former team mates.

From the off the Harriers went straight for the Macclesfield jugular and Gittings had an early attempt at opening the scoring when his shot produced a good save from the home keeper Rhys Taylor.  Scott Boden replied with a header that didn't trouble Danny Lewis in the Harriers goal as much.  It went wide.

Minutes in and the former Harriers loanee full back, Danny Andrew, took out Joe Lolley as he advanced at speed on goal.  The referee turned down all calls for a foul and also failed to book Andrew for the offence.

The referee was to continue making controversial decisions all night.

Macc pressed the Harriers further with chances falling for Danny Rose, Peter Winn and the leagues leading scorer Connor Jennings but it was the Harriers, through Gittings, that was to open the scoring.

Against the run of play a fast, fluent move saw Gittings surge into the box and drive the ball home powerfully to give the Reds the lead.  Minutes later it should have been two when Lolley fired the ball into the home net only to have the goal rubbed out for a foul committed on him by a Macclesfield defender!!!

With time running out in the first half Lolley again saw a chance go begging.  This time his shot going just wide and then came yet another controversial moment when Andrew, again, bought down Amari Morgan-Smith from behind in the penalty area and again the referee waved all claims away and again failed to get his cards out.

The second half was very much a 'backs to the wall' time for the Carpetmen as Macc went in search of an equaliser.  Peter Winn again was the danger man but this shot went over the bar as did Danny Whitakers shot a few minutes later.

We responded with chances to extend our lead through a Lolley attempt and then one from Kyle Storer that was again well saved by Taylor in goal.  Following that attempt Gittings had to leave the field after over stretching and injuring his knee.  Anthony Malbon came on for the goal hero.

With twenty minutes remaining again the Harriers should have extended their lead when Danny Jackman tested Taylor and again Taylor was equal to the chance.  At the other end of the pitch Paul Turnbull tested Danny Lewis with a shot that Danny pushed away.  That was the signal for Macclesfield to press strongly for the equaliser and to counteract that Steve Burr sent on James Dance in place of AMS and then Mickey Demetriou in place of Joe Lolley.

It didn't seem to work though because Macclesfield kept coming and you just knew a goal was on the way.

It came just after Malbon missed the chance to complete the points haul when he spotted the keeper slightly off his line and tried to lift the ball over him.  It went tantalisingly over the bar but from that attempt the ball was played back towards our end and in a goalmouth scramble Turnbull prodded the ball over the line to share the points.

So near yet so far.

 Goal for Macclesfield: Turnbull 90
 Goal for Harriers: Gittings 27

REFEREE:

Mr C Kavanagh Lancashire