- Clarke (26), Clarke (53), Walker (56 og), Clarke (64 pen), Clarke (67), Austin (89)
- Date:2008-08-30
- Kick-off:15:00
- Venue:The Moss Rose Ground
- Attendance:1554
- Referee:Hooper, S
Live Commentary
90mins
That's it, it's all over, the referee has blown the final whistle.
89mins
Goal!! Darlington have scored with Neil Austin putting it in the back of the net.
74mins
Jason Kennedy is replaced by Robin Hulbert.
73mins
Billy Clarke is being taken off, Adam Proudlock has come on in his place.
67mins
Goal!! Billy Clarke scores for Darlington.
64mins
Billy Clarke takes a penalty for Darlington and scores!.
63mins
It's red. He's off. Sean Hessey has been sent off.
58mins
Liam Hatch is being taken off, Gregg Blundell has come on in his place.
56mins
Own goal, Richard Walker has put it in his own net.
55mins
Terry Dunfield goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.
53mins
Goal!! Darlington have scored with Billy Clarke putting it in the back of the net.
46mins
Macclesfield are replacing Clayton McDonald with Martin Gritton.
46mins
The second half is under way with the score currently at 0 v 1.
45mins
The ref has blown his whistle for half time.
26mins
Goal!! Billy Clarke scores for Darlington.
21mins
Macclesfield are replacing Jamie Tolley with Terry Dunfield.
0mins
The ref has blown his whistle and the match has started.
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Match Report
Blundering Macclesfield Town were blown apart by four-goal hero Billy Clarke as Darlington recorded their first league win of the season.
It was the Cheshire side's heaviest ever league defeat and cemented their miserable start to the season without mustering a solitary reply.
Despite the rout Macclesfield had the better chance in the opening stages with left winger Danny Thomas thumping a rising shot past the upright from the edge of the box in the 6th minute and sub Terry Dunfield looping a close-range header wide in the 23rd minute.
But Darlo opened the scoring on 27 minutes when Clarke stole in front of cumbersome on-loan centre-back Clayton McDonald to convert a telling Liam Hatch cross.
Macclesfield nearly equalised in the 38th minute when left wing-back Ahmed Deen sent a 25-yard free-kick onto the top of the crossbar.
The goal of the game came in the 53rd minute when Clarke unleashed a 30-yard drive that was still rising as it clipped the inside of the post.
Macc added to their own woes just three minutes later when centre-back Richard Walker bagged a classic own goal with a firm downward header to unwittingly convert a dangerous Hatch cross.
The comedy of errors continued in the 63rd minute when Macc skipper Sean Hessey was sent off for clipping Gregg Blundell in the box, allowing Clarke to slot home his hat-trick
Clarke wasn't finished and in the 67th minute he tapped home his fourth after more creative work from Blundell down the left-hand flank had opened up a channel in front of goal.
Macc veteran Martin Gritton then fluffed a simple header to waste the chance of a late consolation.
The final nail came from Neil Austin, who buried a speculative 30-yard drive that left Macc keeper Jon Brain flapping at thin air and cursing his defence.
Macclesfield Town Team
Darlington Team
Macclesfield Town | Darlington |
Corners
| 6 | 5 |
Fouls
| 9 | 8 |
Goal attempts
| 10 | 11 |
Shots off target
| 6 | 3 |
Offsides
| 3 | 6 |
