Notts. County 0 Macclesfield Town 5

Last updated : 25 January 2005 By Footymad Previewer
AA classic case of 'After the Lord Mayor's show' for Notts County who were glorious in beating Scunthorpe United on Saturday and dreadful in crashing to a far superior Macclesfield Town by five clear goals.

Notts supporters could scarcely believe what they saw. Their side went into this game not having conceded a goal in over seven hours of league football but the form book was turned upside down by dominant Macclesfield.

They created a dozen clear-cut scoring opportunities in the game as a whole and accepted five of them including a hat-trick by Jonathan Parkin who ran the Notts central defensive pair for Julien Baudet and Kelvin Wilson utterly ragged with a brilliant one-man show up front.

Notts defensive frailties were exposed in the 26th minute when Danny Swailes was allowed to rise unchallenged at the back post to head on a right-wing corner that left goalkeeper Saul Deeney with the uncharacteristic task of picking the ball out of the net.

Worse followed on 38 minutes when Parkin latched onto a long clearance that put two defenders out of the game, drew out Deeney, recovered his balance and slotted the ball home.

Notts rearranged at the break to try to counter Macclesfield's 3-5-2 formation but it continued to be the visitors who held all the aces.

Parkin claimed his second on 57 minutes when both Baudet and Wilson again failed to arrest his progress and the big striker finish with aplomb.

The fourth was another goal from a set-piece which Michael Welch headed home.

Notts seemed fortunate to escape having Robert Ullathorne sent off in stoppage time for holding back sub Danny Whitaker in a scoring position. Ullathorne was cautioned while Macclesfield were awarded a penalty.

Parkin was given the opportunity to complete his hat-trick which he did with ease to complete County's miserable rout.