Town 3 - 1 Macclesfield

The Mariners are top of the league at least for 18 hours, after a resounding win against Macclesfield.

Simon Ramsden and Ciaran Toner came in for the injured Rob Jones and Jean-Paul Kalala who was away on international duty.

Town started the game having lost five games on the bounce at home - but with the green seats gone, perhaps Town's luck would change. A win would send the Mariners to the top of the Division. Mansfield kicked off towards the Pontoon. It was a very blowy night which could well affect the pattern of play.

Cohen and McDermott tried to get Parkinson in but it was just too far ahead of him and in the breakaway, Bullock brought a fine save from Mildenhall.

Reddy got away from his man, but could find neither Cohen nor Jones who were both heading goalwards.

Reddy won Town's first corner after 11 minutes. Cohen got a touch on the corner, diverting it past the right post.

Town won the ball back after Cohen seemed to have been fouled, and Jones smashed the ball from the right with the ball just needing to be touched in.

Cohen got to the by-line, though he only managed to run into trouble and give away a goal kick.

Cohen headed on looking for Reddy, and then knocked it down for Bolland, with former Town keeper Fettis retrieving the situation for the visitors.

Reddy went round Fettis, and as the keeper looked to have brought him down Reddy demanded a penalty, which the referee turned down.

Briscoe next brought down Reddy from behind and again Referee Ilderton waved play on.

Cohen got off his shot as he broke past the last defender, but Morley blocked the effort.

Newey then won another corner in front of the Osmond Stand, took it himself, and after being played in a couple of times, and then Town won another corner, this time Parkinson winning a free-kick after the initial clearance of the corner. Newey took the kick, but it was straight down the throat of Fettis in front of his 50 fans in the Osmond Stand.

Martin Bullock was booked for time-wasting, on the half-hour, and John Parkin replaced right-back Bailey.

Harsley took a Macclesfield free-kick with Town getting rid of the ball in untidy fashion.

Whitaker was the next to try his luck as Parkin made life difficult for the Mariners defence.

There was more excitement as Jones met the ball at the far post and Fettis smothered the ball.

Goal!: 40:53 There was a good build-up by the Mariners, and Toner put over a wonderful cross, and it was met by Gary Jones who headed well past Fettis.

Goal!: 42:05 Parkin held players off using his weight and at his second attempt volleyed the ball into the top corner of the net.

Just before 44 minutes, the ball was played in and Paul Harsley the former Town player seemed to handle the ball, but again Mr Ilderton ignored the appeals.

Cohen picked up the ball in midfield and his shot was diverted out for a corner, which was the last action of the half.

Half-time: Town 1 - 1 Macclesfield

Mildenhall - His save the turning point?

A minute after the restart, Parkin smashed the ball towards the top corner, and it was equalled by Mildenhall's save, clutching hold of the ball and keeping hold.

Reddy kept the ball in, played to Newey who won a corner, from which a second corner was won, which was poor, and Macclesfield broke away with Mildenhall saving the situation again one on one.

Reddy chipped the ball to the near post and won another Town corner.

A good sliding challenge from Newey stopped Bullock at the cost of a corner, and the ball went out for a goal-kick.

Toner won the ball twice in succession and tried to find Reddy, he ran into the box, and Cohen needed just too much time, though the ball was pushed out for a Town corner, and ...

Goal!: 59:56 the ball came out to Newey on the right, he moved it on to his left foot and smashed a wonderful 25-yarder into the corner of the net. It was the defender's first goal for the Mariners.

Immediately Macclesfield tried to get back into the game in the same manner as the first time they had gone behind. But Cohen got in a low cross and Parkinson just failed to divert it onto the target.

Jones played to Reddy, and the speedy striker was thwarted by a defender as Fettis collected.

Parkin got away from Whittle and went down in the box with no-one near him.

Briscoe conceded a throw-in, and Newey was happy to win another throw, and then Parky tried a shot that was always flying high.

Macclesfield won a corner, and Town defended well, winning a goal-kick.
Jones skipped two challenges, crossed and the defender headed out as far as Cohen. When Reddy took the ball forward, the defender stepped across the Town striker but Mr Ilderton again ignored Town appeals.

Cohen was bundled from behind by Navarro, and again the Referee ignored the action.

Newey whipped in another corner, and Fettis punched clear, and then Harsley fired over the bar.

With 75 minutes on the clock Miles replaced Bullock for the visitors.

Wijnhard lobbed the ball over the stranded Mildenhall, but the linesman had his flag raised anyway.

Goal!: 79:31 Cohen went on a mazy run, and placed the ball past Fettis.

Before the game restarted Calvin Andrew replaced Parkinson.

Fettis then smothered another Cohen shot.

Reddy ran the ball into the area and his drive was inches away from the far post.

Full-time: Town 3 - 1 Macclesfield