City Ease Into Third Round

Ryan France - made the most of a rare start (Photo © Paul Whiteley)

It was actually the visitors who had the first close effort on goal with Danny Whitaker hitting the crossbar from distance in the 14th minute for what would have been his third goal on Tigers turf after finding the net in recent previous meetings.

But City responded with the opening goal of the game in the 28th minute. A corner came out to Ryan France just inside the box, and he controlled the ball on his chest before striking it into the bottom corner.

7 minutes later, Stuart Elliott went on a great run before seeing his shot spilled by ex-City 'keeper Steve Wilson into the path of Delroy Facey who buried the rebound to make it 2-0.

Elliott got on the scoresheet himself 4 minutes later with a shot from the left side of the area going through the grasp of Wilson in what was turning out to be a nightmare return to Hull for the 30-year-old.

After going into half time 3-0 down, any hopes Macclesfield had of a comeback were dashed just a minute after the restart when City scored again. France broke free down the middle and played in Facey, whose finish was clinical for his second of the game.

It was comfortable for City and Peter Taylor took the opportunity to use up his substitutes, bringing on Jon Walters, Junior Lewis and Jason Price over the course of the half.

But 5 minutes from the end, Boaz Myhill was clattered in the face by Jonathan Parkin when coming to claim a cross. After lenghtly treatment on the pitch, he needed assistance in hobbling off, with defender Marc Joseph picking up the gloves and going in goal.

He didn't have a shot to save though with the game effectively over as a contest, and a professional 4-0 victory sees City's name go into tomorrow's 3rd Round draw.

City line-up (4-4-2): Myhill; Joseph, Cort, Delaney, Dawson; France, Ashbee (Lewis 60), Keane, Elliott; Barmby (Walters 52), Facey (Price 76).
Un-used subs: Duke, Wilbraham.