Rooney Scores as United 'XI' Beat Macclesfield

Goalscorer
By Chris O'Brien
August 11 2006

Wayne Rooney netted his first goal for over three months as a Manchester United 'XI' won a pre-season friendly at Macclesfield. Frazier Campbell was also on the scoresheet for the visitors, who secured a 2-1 win at Moss Rose.

Wayne Rooney netted his first goal since April as a mixed Manchester United 'XI' secured a 2-1 pre-season victory at Moss Rose.

The game had been billed as a reserve-team friendly for United, but Sir Alex Ferguson opted to make Rooney, Edwin Van Der Sar and Rio Ferdinand available for selection following their exploits at the World Cup finals in Germany. Giuseppe Rossi and Chris Eagles were other well-known names amongst the starting XI.

Former United 'keeper Tommy Lee started between the sticks for the hosts and impressed against his former club with excellent saves from Paul McShane and Rooney. However, United's big-name striker managed to find a way through the Macclesfield backline as he netted a confidence boosting goal just after the interval, as he deflected a Ritchie Jones strike home.

Macclesfield, to the delight of the home crowd, drew level only five minutes later through Danny Swailes as United struggled to clear a corner. However, as the revolving door of substitutions began spinning from both benches, Frazier Campbell did his reputation no harm by turning home a free-kick with some style.

The game proved a useful run out for a United side made up of a mixed bag of players. This was Macclesfield's first pre-season outing, and whilst the result gives little indication of things to come for either set of players, it was an entertaining clash enjoyed by a bumper crowd which will ease the Silkmen's precarious financial position.

Full Time - Macclesfield Town 1-2 Manchester United 'XI'
Attendance - 5,500

Macclesfield Town: Lee, Regan, McNulty, Swailes, Morley, McIntyre, Navarro, Miles, Bullock, McNeil, Robinson.

Manchester United: Van Der Sar, Simpson, Lee, McShane, Ferdinand, Gibson, Martin, Jones, Rossi, Rooney and Eagles.