Macclesfield manager Mark Kennedy suffers defeat in first game at Colchester

Posted Sunday, January 19, 2020 by PA

Colchester claimed a narrow 2-1 Sky Bet League Two victory to inflict defeat on Mark Kennedy in his first game as Macclesfield head coach.

Macclesfield goalkeeper Reice Charles-Cook denied Ryan Clampin early on, before Colchester took a 14th-minute lead in spectacular fashion when Callum Harriott collected possession nearly 30 yards from goal and unleashed a magnificent shot that looped into the net.

And the U’s doubled their lead two minutes later when Fiacre Kelleher sliced Kwame Poku’s low cross into his own net from close range.

Colchester goalkeeper Dean Gerken denied Ben Stephens soon after but it was almost 3-0 when Harriott’s shot dipped just over.

Corey O’Keefe dragged wide for Macclesfield before half-time and Joe Ironside also went close for the visitors, after the interval.

The Silkmen pulled a goal back after 72 minutes when Stephens scored with a sweet volley from the edge of the area, after Colchester had only partially cleared.

Charles-Cook denied Theo Robinson soon after that, as the U’s claimed a first win in five matches to extend their unbeaten league run to 13 games.