City in control on away days

Three points are always to be welcomed but these were particularly satisfying; reward for doggedness, determination and the ability to grind out a positive result when the football was never that fluent.

As at Reading in the FA Cup a week earlier, City were on the back foot for long spells and it wasn't until the 68th minute that they finally managed a shot on target.

But a barnstorming 20-minute opening and a frantic finale from the hosts aside, City, while not enjoying the lions' share of possession, for the most part looked like a side in control of their own destiny.

City often rode their luck but looked ready to take their time, be patient and seize any meagre opportunities that came their way. It worked to a tee.

Too often this season City have been masters of their own downfall, unable to withstand long periods of pressure and buckling under concerted duress.

But in the absence of the injured Steve Agnew it is easy to see why Darren Patterson was handed the captain's armband in only his third appearance for the Minstermen.

The unflappable Northern Ireland international has a presence and confidence about him that is obviously rubbing off on his fellow defenders. Indeed, both Mark Sertori and Colin Alcide probably outshone Patterson with their stirring performances.

It was heartening too to see City's young guns grow stronger.

After a shaky first-half, Neville Stamp finally got to grips with former on-loan winger Keiron Durkan, while Marc Thompson made a series of telling and well-timed tackles and grew in stature as the game progressed.

Christian Fox completed his first 90 minutes of the season in only his third start of an injury-ravaged campaign and looked determined to make up for lost time, bursting from deep on a number of occasions in the second-half to belie his lack of match practice and fitness.

Up front, Chris Iwelumo performed the target man role to the letter - chasing lost causes, winning flick-ons, holding the ball up before capping a fine all-round display with a wonderful winner.

Macclesfield certainly had the better chances in a first-half bereft of any real quality play that saw City create nothing in the way of goal efforts themselves.

Durkan came closest to breaking the deadlock, smashing a fierce volley from the edge of the area off the inside of the post and out again with Alan Fettis well beaten.

A shot from a similar position from Durkan again flashed just wide of the post while Macclesfield midfielder Chris Priest saw a goal-bound header take a deflection up into the arms of Fettis before being superbly tackled by Sertori as he threatened to pull the trigger from just six yards out.

But while City created very little in terms of goal-scoring opportunities as the half wore on hopes were raised that the game could be won.

What little possession City enjoyed was too often wasted as lines were cleared at the earliest opportunities. But the defence, having subdued Macclesfield's early thunder, was starting to look comfortable.

Up front, Alex Mathie and Iwelumo had little more than scraps upon which to feed, but the Silkmen's defence was living dangerously.

Time and again Mathie's goalward progress was halted only by the linesman's flag and it seemed only a matter of time before City would get the rub of the green.

With a solid platform established, City could afford to be more adventurous and within minutes of the second-half carved out their first real sight of goal.

Fox, breaking from deep, fired in a low cross from the right, Iwelumo got in front of Lee Martin in the Macclesfield goal but couldn't direct the ball.

City were edging ever closer up the field and only a fine interception by Simon Collins prevented Mathie a clear run on goal before another finely-timed challenge robbed Graham Potter as the midfielder eyed up a shot.

On the rare occasions Macclesfield did get in behind the City defence the Minstermen were grateful for the wonderful reflexes of Fettis.

The City 'keeper got down smartly to push Kevin Keen's low drive away then seconds later did even better to deny Damien Whitehead.

The Silkmen's striker didn't get the cleanest of touches to Richard Barker's low cross, but from inside the six-yard box must have thought he had scored only for Fettis to readjust his feet and claw away the danger.

Macclesfield's missed chances added to the growing evidence that this was not going to be the Silkmen's day and less than ten minutes later Iwelumo brought confirmation in stunning fashion.

The on-loan striker pulled out wide to receive Potter's carefully considered pass, turned Danny Adams and strode purposefully towards goal before lashing the ball past Martin with an exquisite finish.

As Macclesfield went in search of an equaliser City had chances to add to their tally. Iwelumo's shot was charged down while Fox fired an effort inches wide.

Substitute Lee Glover was denied by Alcide's brave, desperate goal line clearance in the final two minutes.

It just about summed up City's Boxing Day efforts. Not always pleasing on the eye but highly effective and very productive.