Leek Town played their final home league game of the season in the knowledge that their Pitching In Northern Premier League Step 3 status had been secured for next season but were in no mood to coast through the game as they gave runaway champions Macclesfield a real run for their money in front of a bumper crowd of 1782 with Macclesfield selling out their allocation of 825. They gave a spirited display before falling to a 2-1 defeat after having to play the last 25 minutes with ten men after the dismissal of Liam Edwards.

Leek manager Josh Brehaut named what was probably his strongest line up making two changes to the Mickleover game with Louis Potts returning to the frontline in place of loanee Taylor Bowen and Adam Porter restored to midfield with Olly Shenton dropping to the bench.

The Blues players and staff respectfully formed a guard of honour to welcome champions Macclesfield onto the pitch and as the game started the visitors immediately showed why they had dominated the league taking an early stranglehold of possession with all the players looking comfortable on the ball.

An early free kick delivered from the left was headed wide by Lewis Fensome whilst a corner kick delivered to the far post found Paul Dawson stealing in unmarked but his header was straight at Xander Parkes in the Leek goal.

Leek’s first foray into the Macclesfield half came after Billy Reeves, who covered every inch of turf in a real captains performance, and Adam Porter had won a couple of challenges in the middle to release Potts down the right one on one with Rollin Menayese, but as the Blues striker took it around the central defender and was about to shoot Neil Kengni was covering well to nip the ball off his toes.

After Parkes had comfortably saved a low effort from John Rooney, Potts had another chance for Leek after Alex Hurst had done well to maintain possession of the ball whilst under pressure from 3 pink shirts cutting in from the left before slipping a sideways pass to the Blues centre forward but his effort from 20yds was curled high and wide.

Hayden Campbell then used his body to try and control a looped ball into the box and when the ball broke loose the supporting Porter nearly picked it up but was just denied by an outstretched defensive leg whilst at the other end a quick Macclesfield break saw D’Mani Mellor sting the hands of Parke at his near post.

The Blues were then stunned by two goals in two minutes by the Silkmen. The first came after 18mins after full back Tre Pemberton had been released down the right on the overlap and his cross had been put behind for a corner. This was taken quickly to catch Leek unaware and was a rehearsed move as the ball was played low to the edge of the area where the first Macclesfield player dummied the ball to allow it to roll on to Mellor. His low shot struck the post but Luke Duffy was on hand to put away the rebound.

Then, on 20mins, in Macclesfields next attack some neat passing opened up space on the left for Kengni and his low left foot cross was expertly fired home at the near post by the leagues top scorer Danny Elliott.

It now looked along way back for the Blues and Macclesfield looked to turn the screw even more and Parke was called into action once more as the visitors full backs, Pemberton and Kengni, combined to create the shooting opportunity for Rooney but the Leek goalkeeper saved low down.

A flashpoint arose after half an hour when Edwards challenge on Laurent Mandy resulted in a bit of a melee of players ending with both Edwards and Macclesfields Rooney being shown the yellow card.

The incident seemed to fire up the Leek players a bit more and resulted in a decent ten minute spell for the home side where only the final pass or the finish let them down.

On 33mins Lucas Weir got the better of Kengni beating him to the ball and nodding it beyond him into the box. There was a brief opportunity to lob keeper Max Dearnley who was off his line but instead he tried to find Campbell with the square pass but it was underhit and cut out.

The ball was won back and Reeves was found in space outside the right edge of the area. His first cross was cut out whilst the second was more threatening and was put behind for the Blues first corner of the game but this was wasted with the delivery over everyone.

Leeks best move came on 36 mins as quick passing moved the ball over to Weir on the right. He produced a fantastic inswinging whipped delivery that found Campbell who only needed to use the whip and pace to help it goalwards from 8yds but he made too strong a contact and the ball looped over.

Then on 39mins the Blues next attack came down the left with Hurst managing to loop a cross over from a tight angle and Potts was able to climb above Menayese but couldn’t get a clean connection on his header under pressure.

Macclesfield nearly made it three just before half time following an error by Olly Haywood who tried to clear the ball with his wrong foot inside the Leek area and only presented the ball to Elliott. However Parke saved his team mates blushes with a fine save ensuring the Blues only went in two down at the break.

LEEK TOWN 0 - MACCLESFIELD 2 HT

Brehaut made a tactical substitution for the start of the second half withdrawing Weir for Shenton.

A rasping 25yd effort from Rooney just cleared Parkes crossbar following a swift break forward by the Silk Men before Leek got back into the game and reduced the arrears from the penalty spot.

It was all down to the tenacity of Reeves who won the ball outside the Macclesfield area and immediately fed the ball perfectly into the path of Hurst who had gotten goal side of Pemberton. The full back tried to challenge but only succeeded in tripping the Blues man for an obvious penalty. Hurst picked himself up and slotted hard and low into the bottom corner.

Leek seemed to have the bit between their teeth and, roared on by their supporters, came forward again with Campbell latching onto a neat header from Potts to advance down the left. The forward exchanged passes with Hurst to open up the opportunity but blazed his effort over.

Then, on the hour mark, it was anyones business as to how the Blues did not draw level from the mightiest of goal mouth scrambles arising from Porters free kick delivery into the box. In a whirl of action the Silkmen put bodies on the line and somehow blocked at least 3 goal bound shots from going in with at least one of them on the goal line itself.

When the ball was eventually cleared it found Macclesfield on the counterattack with an overload of players and Parke produced probably his save of the game to palm away Paul Dawsons effort before he made another more comfortable save from Mendy a couple of minutes later.

With the game feeling more and more like a cup tie Macclesfield manager visibly getting more and agitated was booked by the referee to the delight of the home supporters as Leek made another substitution with the tiring Potts replaced by Bowen.

It was Bowen who was involved at the beginning of what was a couple of incidents that may have been major turning points in the momentum of the game on 65mins.

Campbell produced a flick on into the path of Bowen who got to the ball before his opponent and reached the D outside the area before falling under the challenge of Kengni as he looked to shoot. Unbelievably no foul was given but the loose ball broke for Shenton and with only Dearnley to beat the Blues man was denied by the keepers legs and the ball broke kindly for a Macclesfield counterattack down the left. This resulted in Edwards tackling Luke Duffy before the ball was worked to Elliott who hit the outside of the post from a narrow angle.

However, before Parke could take the goal kick the referee had returned to Edwards and showed him his second yellow card followed by a red, and Leek found themselves reduced to ten men for the remainder of the game.

Brehaut immediately sent on Julius Ndene to plug the gap at centre half but had to withdraw Campbell as a result meaning Leek had lost a part of their attacking threat and despite the best efforts of the Blues players the nearest they were able to come was a 20yd drive from Porter that flew high and wide and a through ball that unluckily just ran on from Bowen inside the area.

With their man advantage Macclesfield were able to take more control of the game but still had to be mindful that they only had a one goal lead. The Silkmen carved out a couple of further chances with Mellor driving one shot just wide of the post and Parke once again denying Rooney in their personal battle producing a good save with his feet after 77mins whilst Liam Buckley also denied Rooney with a great block on 80.

Parke was fortunate not to receive a card when his momentum in coming out to catch a ball played through took him out of his area and he was penalised for handling it outside the area. Elliott took the free kick and his effort smacked against the inside of post and bar before being cleared.

It was the last meaningful bit of action as the Silkmen comfortably dealt with a number of high balls pumped forward by Leek in the hope of getting on the end of the second ball to try and creat something before the final whistle went.

But the Blues players, who ran themselves into the ground, deservedly earned the applause and accolade they received as they thanked their fans for all the support shown throughout the season.

LEEK TOWN 1 - MACCLESFIELD 2 FT

REPORT BY WINNERS LAD

As our home games draw to a close for the 2025/26 we still have one last dance away on Saturday 26 April against Gainsborough Trinity, we hope to see you there.

Match Photos courtesy of Jim Booth HERE