Macclesfield Ladies 1st XI kicked of their season with a deserved 3-0 victory over Marple Ladies on Saturday afternoon.

The home side started on the back foot after Marple began the match in a typically attacking style but Macclesfield's strong defence were up to the challenge and soaked up the pressure well through smart tackles from Perry and Duffy and reflex saves from goalkeeper Sutton.

The defence was tested many times through short corners awarded to Marple but the visitors were unable to make a breakthrough.

Macclesfield's midfielders began to find their form and with after swift passing between Branley and Heylings, the forwards found themselves in the opponents and broke the deadlock after a neat finish from Wheeler to make the score 1-0.

Macclesfield continued to play with more fluidity and were soon putting together good passing moves involving Heywood and Johnson on the left. But Marple kept to their attacking game plan and pressed whenever they were in sight of goal however the defence remained resolute. 

After a swift counter attack Barlow found herself one on one with the Marple goalkeeper and tidily put away her first chance of the game to double Macclesfield's lead.

The home side came out after half time fired up and looked a more organised unit working well together and building on their 1st half performance. Collins made good tackles to halt Marple's left winger and made ground with possession to enable Macclesfield to move forward. 

After more hard work in midfield, Barlow again found herself in a good position to test the Marple goalkeeper and managed to squeeze the ball into the goal from an acute angle to make the score 3-0.

Again Marple came out fighting and pressed until the very end but couldn't turn the pressure into a goal.

It was a great start to the season and next Saturday they play Leek hoping to continue their winning ways before the League begins.

Man of the match went to Bex Ward and Player's player was Alycia Sutton.