Colchester United ran out 2-1 winners over Macclesfield Town

MACCLESFIELD Town boss Mark Kennedy described his side's 2-1 defeat at Colchester United as a 'horrible game'.

The former Liverpool and Wolves winger took charge of the Silkmen for the first time and saw his side fall to a narrow loss, at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Callum Harriott's superb goal and an own goal from Macclesfield defender Fiacre Kelleher put Colchester in charge, in the first half.

And although Ben Stephens pulled a goal back for the Silkmen in the second half, it was not enough to prevent them falling to defeat in the League Two clash.

Kennedy said: "It was a horrible game and not a nice result but there were a huge amount of positives to take.

“I thought it was a really scrappy game and an ugly game.

“There were a lot of technical breakdowns but I thought that it was incredibly competitive.

“I wish it was a prettier game of football but I said to the lads at the end that with ten minutes left, I’m not too precious to put free-kicks and things into the box from deep areas.

“I thought we were a little bit naïve in the first half in terms of them being aggressive down the wings and really hurt us down the sides.

“It was clever play from them by their wingers dropping down to get things down the sides.

"The one thing you don't want a defender is running back towards your own goal.

“We got into some great positions today but on at least eight occasions, we’d done the hard bit but the next bit is the release of the ball and the type of run.

“We could have really hurt Colchester today so that was frustrating but the attitude and endeavour from the lads was incredible.

"We were 2-0 down and I thought 'how unlucky is this' but I never thought at any point that it was going to be four or five.

"I always felt that we had something to us and I think we were very even in terms of shots on goal, possession, corners and crosses.

"We've been incredibly competitive against a really, really good side so that was pleasing."

Macclesfield lie third from bottom in the League Two table, two points above bottom club Morecambe.

"Two players came up to me after the game and said 'sorry about that gaffer' but I said 'don't you ever apologise to me'," added Kennedy.

"They've been awesome and I've no doubts with the group we've got and we add to it, they'll be fine.

"If you are going to get beat, you don't want to be losing by four or five.

"That goal difference will mean a point to us, come the end of the season.

"Things like that are really important but I think on the things that we've seen today, we've matched them all over in terms of possession, chances, crosses, shots, corners so that's a real positive on the back of two days of training."