MKJ Group

Cards look for Cheshire hat-trick

Brian Caffarey
9:51am, Fri 20th Sep 2013
Macclesfield Town v Woking
3pm on Saturday 21 September 2013

After 2-0 away wins at Chester last month and, on Tuesday night, at Hyde, can the Cards make it a Cheshire hat-trick when they visit Macclesfield tomorrow? It will be tough again but Garry Hill’s side will have gained confidence from another victory and their opponents are still without a win.

WOKING

The Cards had to work very hard to gain their win at Hyde, surviving a lot of home pressure, especially in the first half, but that resilience is precisely what Garry Hill will have been looking for after too many defensive lapses.

Sam Beasant replaced Aaron Howe at Hyde, whilst John Goddard, a trialist from Reading in the summer, was also on the team sheet. As the game unfolded, Garry took the brave decision to replace Lee Sawyer – one of the more consistent performers this season – with winger Anthony McNamee, who proved to be an influential figure on the right flank.

With a long run of games coming up against sides who’ve mostly been going well this season, Garry will be keen to get three points from this game if at all possible. But, rather like Woking recently, the Silkmen have been producing improving performances without getting results, so the Cards can’t afford to be complacent.

MACCLESFIELD TOWN

Macclesfield’s financial problems have meant that most of their ‘big name’ players have left the club, although they have still got some talented players on their books, including midfielder John Paul Kissock, formerly with Luton, ex-Stevenage winger Peter Winn, keeper Rhys Taylor, who started his career at Chelsea, and the pacy Jack Mackreth. Striker Connor Jennings is on loan from Scunthorpe United, having had a loan spell at Stockport County last season. Perhaps the best known player in the squad is Efe Sodje, now 40, but still pulling on his boots in his second spell at the Moss Rose.

Macclesfield have drawn one and lost three of their four home games so far and currently sit one place above Hyde at the wrong end of the table. The 2-2 draw came against FC Halifax Town, whilst the games against Nuneaton, Braintree and Alfreton all ended in 1-0 defeats. The Silkmen lost 2-1 at Chester on Tuesday night but, by all accounts, played well in the second half as they nearly came back from a two-goal half-time deficit.

GETTING THERE

Moss Rose Stadium
London Road
Macclesfield
Cheshire
SK11 7SP

By coach
The Cards Trust coach leaves Kingfield at 9.30am. The cost is £23 for members and £30 for non-members. Ring or email the Club Shop to book your place (01843 772470 or shop@wokingfc.co.uk).

By car
Exit the M6 at junction 17 (Sandbach) and follow the A534 to Congleton. From here take the A536 to Macclesfield (Macclesfield is signposted from the motorway). After passing the 'Millers' pub on the left continue for about 1/4 of a mile and take the first right after the speed-camera onto Moss Lane. Follow Moss Lane until you reach the ground.

By train
Direct trains leave Euston on the hour e.g. the 12 noon train gets into Macclesfield at 13.41. Other trains leave at 20 minutes past the hour and involve a change at Stoke-on-Trent e.g. the 11.20 from Euston arrives at Stoke at 12.48, with a train from Stoke to Macclesfield leaving at 12.55 and arriving at 13.11. Direct trains back are at 56 minutes past the hour e.g. the 17.56 arrives at Euston at 19.42. Trains via Stoke leave at 26 or 27 minutes past the hour e.g. the 17.27 should get you to Euston at 19.23. The ground is about a 25-minute walk from the station.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults: £14 / £18
Concessions (Over 60s): £10 / £14
Under 18s / Students: £5
Under 12s: £3

LAST TIME OUT

In March this year the Cards had to show great determination to keep out a lively Macc attack, with central defenders Brett Johnson and Joe McNerney gaining much praise, as Garry Hill’s side battled to a 0-0 draw. Seb Brown, at fault only a few days before for Cambridge’s injury-time winner, denied ex-Card Keiran Murtagh in the Silkmen’s final throw of the dice.

The home fixture, played a month later, was an extraordinary affair, with the Cards racing into a 5-0 lead by half-time, only to be clinging on at the end to secure a 5-4 win. The Cards were two up in ten minutes as Billy Knott turned the ball in after Jayden Stockley’s header came back off the crossbar and then Kevin Betsy curled a delightful effort past the away keeper. Stockley made it three from the penalty spot after Knott had been brought down after stealing the ball from a dawdling defender. A superb through ball from Betsy saw Stockley make it 4-0 with a clever chip over the keeper and then Stockley laid a pass into Knott’s path for the midfielder to drill home. Managerless Macclesfield, without a win in four games, could have been forgiven for giving up hope but they came back in the second half to score through Waide Fairhurst, Guy Madjo, Fairhurst again and then Arthur Gnouhoua, with Woking hanging on for grim death at the finish.

NEXT GAME

The next home game is a very attractive encounter with Luton Town on Tuesday 24 September, swiftly followed by another home game the following Saturday (28 September) against high-flying Nuneaton Town. Make sure you’ve got these games firmly in your diary!


Come on, you Cards!


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