Main went into their local derby away at Parkgate on the back of a disappointing three–nil defeat away at Congelton in the FA Vase and, despite being ahead and in control at the break, again slipped to defeat.
Main started the game the stronger with Rob Branagan a studs width away from giving Main the lead as early as the fourth minute, sliding in but unable to direct the ball the right side of the back post.
New signing Chris Woods went close in the ninth minute when his back header landed on the roof of the net following Paul Staniforth’s long throw in.
A minute later Chris Dickman sent Branagan clear through on goal, the Main striker rounded Shaun Penn but his strike rolled wide of the goal.
The Steelmen’s first real chance came in the thirteenth minute when ex Main mid-fielder Jordan Stock curled in a free kick but Danny Heald was equal to the effort, saving easily.
Branagan again went close in the seventeenth minute when he beat Luke Smith to the ball but his shot flashed across the face of the goal and out for a goal-kick.
The main talking point in the first half came in the thirty third minute when Stock’s free kick was headed away by Scott McDonald only as far as Ryan Campbell. He fired a shot that hit James Ellis in the midriff with the Parkgate players adamant that the ball had hit his arm but the referee waved the claims away.
Two minutes later Stock wasted a great chance when he fired high over the bar from twenty yards before, four minutes from half time, Main took the lead. Chris Dickman fed the ball wide to Danny Patterson who played the ball back to Paul Staniforth. The Main skipper took a touch, then delivered a wonderful curling ball into the six yard box and Branagan side footed in from close range.
The home side were first to show in the second half with Heald saving easily from Glyn Cotton twenty six seconds from the restart.
Stock again tried his luck from a free kick in the fiftieth minute but Heald again saved easily low down.
In the fifty ninth minute Woods set off on a great winding run that             

ended up inside the penalty area, he was forced to lay the ball back for Dickman who powered a shot over the bar.
A minute later and Parkgate were level. Kieran Gallagher raced down the wing and fired a shot from the edge of the box which rolled into the far corner of the goal.
Stock was desperate to get his name on the scoresheet against his former club and this time the upright denied him after a powerful low driven shot hit the base of the post and rebounded clear for a throw in to Maltby.
The home side took the lead when Stock curled in a free kick that another ex Miner Luke Fletcher thundered against the bar. The ball looked to have crossed the line but Campbell was on hand to head the ball into the Main goal.
Branagan had a great chance to put Main level but he shot across goal and wide of the post in the sixty fifth minute.
With fifteen minutes remaining in the game Gallagher fired a shot high over the bar from close range but the Steelmen made it three in the eightieth minute amidst yet more controversy. Cotton was upended inside the penalty area but the referee gave the foul right on the edge of the box. Parkgate skipper Luke Smith stepped up and curled the ball over the wall and past Heald - an early contender for goal of the season.
The home side were not finished, adding another goal in the eighty eighth minute when Campbell sidefooted into an empty following Mark Caine’s shot being palmed to Campbell’s feet by Heald.
Main grabbed a consolation goal late into stoppage time when McDonald headed in from close range following Mike Baker’s corner.

Maltby Main: Danny Heald, Jonathan Wragg, Paul Staniforth, James Ellis, Scott McDonald, Chris Dickman, Nicky Hancock (Greg Mason 75), Michael Baker, Chris Wood, Rob Branagan, Danny Patterson (David Shepherd 82).
Unused Sub: Matt Wragg