Athletic are off and running

On target: Sam Surridge, pictured with Frankie Bunn when he signed for Athletic a few weeks ago

Athletic gained their first victory of the season as they comfortably swept past still pointless Macclesfield Town at Boundary Park.

Frankie Bunn's side didn't have it all their own way throughout an entertaining 90 minutes, but by the end of the game they had been good value for the win.

Bournemouth loanee front-man Sam Surridge set the hosts on their way as last season's National League champions were sent crashing to a third straight league defeat.

Athletic wasted a clear-cut chance early on when skipper Peter Clarke - making his first appearance of the season following injury - sent a free header over the crossbar from six yards.

But the breakthrough came in the 16th minute as Gevaro Nepomuceno found Surridge, who cleverly created space inside the box and finished well from 12 yards.

At the other end, Harry Smith's long-range effort flew just off target for the Silkmen.

Athletic struck again in the 53rd minute.

There was a stroke of good fortune for Bunn's battlers as Johan Branger let fly from 25 yards and his shot took a big deflection, leaving goalkeeper Rhys Taylor completely wrong-footed.

Macclesfield responded on the hour mark, with Michael Rose curling a free-kick into the bottom corner from just outside the box.

Fiacre Kelleher almost levelled, but the hosts sealed it in stoppage time when Ishmael Miller chased down George Edmundson's long clearance and scored an eye-catching individual goal.

Athletic will now hope to build on their maiden win of the campaign as they make the long trek south to Yeovil Town for their next League Two assignment on Tuesday.

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