"I WAS THERE"

Another momentary lapse in concentration again cost Carlisle dearly as they went down to a solitary Richie Barker goal at Moss Rose.
The Cumbrians created enough chances to have got at least a point out of the game and defensively were sound apart from being unable to deal with the route one move which resulted in Macclesfield's winner.
Manager Ian Atkins was conscious of repeating the same old excuses when he said after the game: "We've been punished again for one lapse in concentration and not doing our jobs properly. The chances we created for an away side was embarrassing for the home side but it wasn't our day in front of goal. When you have days like that you have got to defend solidly and keep a clean sheet to get something out of the game. We got caught with a long ball again, just like at Kidderminster in midweek, and that is pathetic. We made Macclesfield look a very average side but we've lost again, but how many times have I said that. I'm beginning to sound like a stuck record. I need to change individuals but can't do it. It's very frustrating."
The Silkmen created the first opening of the match after three minutes when Carlisle keeper Matt Glennon needed to be alert to stop Chris Priest's shot from the edge of the box.
On 22 minutes Ian Stevens should have put the visitors in front but home keeper Lee Martin did well to get down to turn his shot away.
Priest again went close after 35 minutes when he headed narrowly wide from Danny Adams' cross.
With three minutes left to the break Lee Maddison should have put the Cumbrians ahead when played through by Gordon Connelly. Again Martin made a good save at Maddison's feet to win the one on one encounter.
In first half injury time Glennon made an excellent save pushing a Lee Glover shot round the post.
Five minutes into the second half Scott Dobie should have done better than head an Ian Stevens cross straight at Martin.
With 55 minutes gone the Cumbrians were made to pay for their missed chances when Mark Winstanley failed to deal with a routine long ball, allowing Richie Barker in to draw Matt Glennon and slot home.
Four minutes later Winstanley could have made amends but headed straight at Martin from a partially cleared corner.
On 66 minutes John Hore should have equalised when Carl Heggs' blocked shot broke to him only for Martin to make another outstanding save from the youngster's shot.
The football was now less than pretty as the Cumbrians resorted to long balls to put pressure on the home side. But the Silkmen almost got another goal on the break as Priest headed narrowly over from a Glover cross.
Carlisle have somehow got to find a way of turning improved performances into points as Ian Atkins is again left scratching his head for an answer.