The U23s managed to crawl back a last minute draw in a 5-5 thriller against Ramsbottom FC.
Carlos Dos Santos was the star man yesterday evening as he managed to secure his hattrick in erratic fashion, rising above the rest in a 93rd minute corner. Other goals from Alberto Schiavon and Freddy Lloyd helped Macclesfield score the draw.
The U23 Whites did make it hard for themselves early on as they went one nil down from an over the top ball from Ramsbottom.
However, The Whites kept their cool as they managed to get an equaliser from a corner. Alberto Schiavon was able to lose his marker on the edge of the box and combined with Alex Lardner’s low cross, Macclesfield levelled the playing field.
It only took 5 minutes for The U23s to take the lead with Carlos Dos Santos getting off the mark, cutting inside and perfecting a bottom corner finish from the edge of Ramsbottom’s box. A quick minute later Freddy Lloyd read the game brilliantly as the ball rolled to him just beyond the half way line, he striked it first time remarkably, noticing the keeper was off his line and it flew over him into the back of the net. Macclesfield increased their lead.
With chances either end of the pitch, Macclesfield didn’t give up their two goal lead easily, it was only up until a few minutes before the break that Ramsbottom got one back.
The lads went into half time still leading with a goal to separate the two teams on this cold and wet Friday night.
Ramsbottom started the second half of with scoring from a counter attack and making sure the score line is level for the second time this game with three goals apiece.
Ewan Gunter’s side was peppering Ramsbottom with shots and they had some great chances missed. But Ramsbottom got lucky and scored from afar which made sure they were winning in this game once again.
Dos Santos equalled the game once again after receiving the ball on the half time and strikes it over the man between the sticks, from the edge of the box, with too much power for keeper to handle.
A chaotic last few minutes to the game, Ramsbottom receive a penalty and they managed to put the ball away to get a goal ahead at the end of normal time.
With injury time on Macclesfield’s side they got themselves a corner and with Carlos Dos Santos wanting to complete his hattrick this could only end one way. Unmarked in the middle he rose up and headed the ball beating the man on the front post getting his three goals.
Attack was the best form of defence, the final score ended 5-5. The lads will be looking to get another win under their belt in their next game on Tuesday evening at home against
Darwen FC U23 ‘s Red.
By Morgan Saunders