Macclesfield boss McMahon criticises referee for late disallowed goal

Posted Sunday, September 29, 2019 by PA

Macclesfield manager Daryl McMahon said his side were denied a much-needed win by referee Chris Pollard in their 1-1 draw with Colchester on Saturday.

Silkmen captain Fiacre Kelleher thought he had snatched victory in stoppage time, only for the official to blow for a foul on goalkeeper Dean Gerken.

With the goal chalked off, McMahon had to console himself with a point, the visitors’ Theo Robinson striking seconds before half-time to cancel out Paddy Osadebe’s 13th-minute effort.

“I don’t think that was a fair result,” said McMahon. “We had the best chances, numerous chances in the first half, and I think that one at the end was a goal.

“I haven’t seen it again but for me it’s a goal. Kels [Kelleher] hasn’t smashed into the goalkeeper, he’s just jumped above him. We could have been three up in the first half (but) then conceded a sloppy goal just before half-time.

“But it was a very good performance. We haven’t shown what we’re about in the last few games, but we were on the front foot from the off today and got after Colchester.

“It was a great finish from Paddy. If we get him on the ball in and around the box he’s really good, he’s composed. It was a lovely little chop then a fantastic finish.

“We just have to capitalise on our chances. We’re not talking about speculative efforts, we create really good chances and we have to take them.”

While Macclesfield have not won in Sky Bet League Two since August, Colchester manager John McGreal was happy with a point to complete a week in which his side knocked Tottenham out of the Carabao Cup.

“I think a share of the points is fair,” said McGreal. “We were really sloppy in our start. I made changes after Tuesday looking to ignite a little bit of energy into us, because our energy levels were a little bit low.

“But you can’t take anything away from Macclesfield, they could have been 2-0 up before we started to get one or two phases of play together.

“We gave the ball away far too often, sloppy passes to each other and they were all over it.”

The U’s boss felt the referee was right to rule out Kelleher’s late goal, adding: “Dean got the plaudits on Tuesday. He’s a Championship keeper for me and I can’t see that late goal being given.

“The ball’s come in on 94 minutes or whatever it was, Dean has gone straight for it and he’s been taken out.”