MacDonald double wins reserve game

Last updated : 29 October 2010 By Shaun Borman
Alex MacDonald
The early exchanges saw Macclesfield in the ascendency. With only two minutes on the clock, Max Lonsdale, unmarked in the Burnley box fired tamely in to the midriff of Craig Mawson.

Burnley's first real chance of the game came on 12 minutes when Wilson manage to break down the right, a telling ball found MacDonald on the edge of the box who sliced is shot wide of the upright.

Mawson was the busier of the two keepers being tested by a strong Macclesfield forward line; a cross come shot by Adams nearly caught him out.

As the game ebbed and flowed it was Macclesfield who came closest to breaking the deadlock, a desperate scramble in the Burnley box saw a succession of shots blocked by the Clarets rearguard.

With 3 minutes remaining of the first half a hard working Eckersley broke down the right, his sublime cross was met by MacDonald again on the edge of the box, this time the Scot caught the ball sweetly however he could only direct is shot wide of Cudsworth's right-hand post.

With the game petering out Sampleton created Macclesfield best chance of the first half firing over the bar after good work by Cook.

The second half started brightly with the ever dangerous MacDonald heading against the upright; however a minute later the Clarets took the lead on 49 minutes. Anderson's exquisite chip over the Macclesfield back four found the effervescent MacDonald who calmly lobbed the advancing Cudsworth in to an empty net.

The young Clarets started to take control of the game, MacDonald again testing Cudsworth, forcing the keeper into a one handed save.

On 59 minutes Macclesfield were level; Sampleton found an unmarked Adam Roberts who made no mistake from the right-hand side of the Burnley box.

With Macclesfield finding new self-belief, Burnley were pushed back with the industrious Sampleton firing over the bar after turning Kudiersky.

The young Clarets continued to create chances, King providing another opportunity for MacDonald who again was thwarted by Cudsworth.

With 12 minutes remaining MacDonald again found himself on the score sheet; Eckersley broke down the right-hand side, with limited options he cut inside finding an unmarked MacDonald who unleashed an unstoppable shot from 35 yards.

Further chances from Knowles and Harvey kept the Macclesfield defence busy as Burnley looked to add to their score.