10-man Hyde suffer heavy defeat to table toppers Macclesfield

Hyde United slipped down to 8th in the Northern Premier League Premier Division on New Year’s Day after a 5-2 defeat at home to league leaders Macclesfield. 

The Tigers will be left wondering what might have been after Callum Spooner’s second-half red card was the difference in an otherwise even affair. 

Danny Elliott put the visitors ahead on 12 minutes, placing the ball into the top right corner from close range before Hyde drew level ten minutes later- Jack Redshaw latching onto Matty Fearnley’s perfectly weighted through ball and tucking the ball into the bottom left corner. 

Visitors Macclesfield then regained their lead just before half-time when Elliott got his second of the afternoon, sitting Hyde goalkeeper Callum Hiddleston down with a sumptuous chip. 

Then came the killer blow for the hosts when Callum Spooner was shown a second yellow card for a lunging tackle in the middle of the park, despite seemingly making contact with the ball. 

From there, it was always going to be an uphill task, and this proved to be the case. 

The home side did manage to draw themselves level soon after the dismissal when captain Jack Redshaw volleyed in his second after Matty Fearnley’s free-kick was deflected into his path, but the parity between the two sides only lasted a matter of moments. 

Robbie Savage's side were back ahead less than a minute later, with Paul Dawson arrowing the ball into the bottom left corner from the edge of the box. 

Two quickfire goals then put the game beyond any doubt, with substitute Alex Curran side-footing home after D’Mani Mellor’s initial effort was saved before Danny Elliott added a fifth, turning in a cross to complete his hat-trick. 

“You’d look at the score and think we’ve had a good hiding, but the scoreline doesn't tell the story,” said Hyde United manager Nick Spooner following the defeat. 

“It was a very good game before the sending off, but it was always going to kill the game, especially against a team like Macclesfield. 

“It was just a shocking decision by someone who clearly hasn’t played football,” he added. 

Spooner’s men will now have a week off before Ilkeston Town’s visit to the Project Solar Stadium on January 11.