Macclesfield v Blyth Spartans | Saturday, 23 November 2024 - 15:00 | League

Spartans suffered their heaviest defeat of the season to runaway league leaders Macclesfield with D'Mani Mellor scoring a hat-trick for the home side.

John Rooney gave the hosts an early lead before D'Mani Mellor added a second with Danny Elliott giving Robbie Savage's side a 3-0 lead inside the first 15 minutes.

Mellor added another two second half goals, securing his hat-trick in stoppage time with Elliott also scoring in the second half to give the hosts a 13-point lead at the top of the table.

Spartans' manager Michael Connor made five changes to the side beaten at home to Matlock Town last week, with seven of Connor's signings named in the starting XI.

Macclesfield took the lead inside 50 seconds when a quick corner routine led to Rooney's low effort finding the back of the net through a crowded penalty area.

Spartans then had an attempt of their own but Ben Fell's header from Michael Woods' free kick was wide.

The league leaders doubled their advantage after 11 minutes when Mellor drove into the area and struck a low shot across Adam Richardson into the bottom corner.

It was three to the hosts, minutes later when Elliott's low strike from the edge of the area was too much to handle for Richardson who spilled the ball into his own net.

Goal scorer Rooney tried his luck from 40 yards out in the 33rd minute but Richardson held on to the speculative effort. Rooney tried to add to his early goal once again when his cross-shot from the left hit the roof of Richardson's net.

Spartans should have had a penalty in first half stoppage time when a loose ball at the back for Macclesfield was intercepted by Sam Hodgson who was then taken out in the box by Macclesfield goalkeeper Max Dearnley, but the referee waved away Spartans' appeals.

Half time: Macclesfield 3-0 Blyth Spartans

Richardson was busy once again in the second half, claiming a deep cross from the left at the second attempt after initially juggling the ball.

The Spartans keeper then had to parry away an attempt from the edge of the area as the home side looked for more goals.

Mellor scored his second and Macclesfield's fourth in the 78th minute when he raced in behind before bundling the ball in.

The hosts extended their advantage further in the 86th minute, with Elliott claiming his second of the afternoon from close range after a low cross from the right.

Another low cross from the right undid the Spartans defence once again, with Mellor netting his third of the afternoon to claim his hattrick in stoppage time.

Full time: Macclesfield 6-0 Blyth Spartans