Struggling Macclesfield Town were left cursing their luck after a fluke winner from Geoff Horsfield cost the Silkmen a point at big-spending Fulham this afternoon.
Horsfield claimed his sixth goal for the Second Division title chasers since his £30,000 move from Halifax Town last year but his strike, which arrived ten minutes into the second half, had more than an element of fortune about it. Steve Hayward, a scorer at Southampton in the FA Cup last weekend, tried his luck from distance again and his speculative shot deflected in off the heels of Horsfield.
It needed a slice of luck to beat an inspired Tony Williams in the Macclesfield goal. Town had to face a three-pronged Fulham forward line with Kevin Keegan keen to try and capitalise on any vulnerabilities in the visiting defence after their 7-0 FA Cup thrashing at Coventry, but coped well with the Cottagers’ early onslaught. Williams, on loan from Blackburn Rovers, saved superbly from Kit Symonds and Paul Peschisoldio before his luck ran out.
FULHAM (4-3-3): Taylor; Finnan, Brevett, Symons, Coleman; Bracewell, Neilson, Hayward; Peschisoldio, Hayles (Salako 77), Horsfield (Lehmann 63). Subs (not used): W. Collins.
GOAL: Horsfield (55).
MACCLESFIELD TOWN (4-4-2): Williams; Hitchen, Payne, Sodje, Ingram; McDonald, Sorvel, Wood, Davies (Sedgemore 75); Askey (Howarth 57), Tomlinson. Subs (not used): Whittaker.
BOOKED: Hitchen.
REFEREE: Steve Bennett (Orpington).
ATTENDANCE: 10,153.
