Macclesfield Express Super Silkmen Flying
Inside Pages: “The Season So Far”
Back Page: “Macclesfield vs Altrincham”
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By Josh Sexton
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fter a torrid few years, financially, for Macclesfield Town, they finally appear to be launching their bid to get back into the football league. Unbeaten at home in the league, and now under public ownership, the situation is looking less bleak for the Silkmen. Their good form has seen them sat in the playoff places, and fans will be hoping that they can be in and amongst it come the end of the season. We asked a mixture of Macclesfield fans and local journalists their views on the season so far. 1. How do you feel the season has gone so far for the Silkmen? 2. What has been your highlight of the season so far? 3. Who has been the “star player” in your eyes? 4. Where do you expect Macclesfield to finish? Mike Glendinning Macclesfield Express 1. Without a doubt it’s been highly successful so far, especially considering the lack of money available to John Askey. Macclesfield were firmly tipped for relegation before the season kicked off and to find themselves in the play-off picture in the run-up to the Christmas fixtures is a spectacular effort on all fronts. 2. . The team’s home record has been the basis of their success to date, they have yet to taste defeat at the Moss Rose. But they’ve also given the supporters a chance to debate their goal of the season, with some stunning strikes to choose from. Waterfall’s volley direct from a corner was perhaps my personal favourite but there’s competition with thunderbolts from Scott Barrow, Paul Turnbull
Macclesfield Express Sport and Waide Fairhurst, not to mention Barrow’s solo effort, when he charged through the Alfreton defence and slotted home. 3. Macclesfield have kept 10 clean sheets so far, thanks in no small part to centre-back George Pilkington, who formed a solid pairing with the onloan Luke Waterfall, but it’s difficult to look beyond goalkeeper Rhys Taylor as the star performer. He’s been in inspired form and as well as a string of topdrawer saves Taylor has saved each of the three penalties he’s faced this term. 4. If they can come through the Christmas period pretty much unscathed they can definitely set their sights on finishing in the top five. However, the Silkmen will be facing second-placed Grimsby Town on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, with an unenviable trip to Bristol Rovers, currently in third, in between. A decent points haul from those three assignments should set them up for an assault on the higher reaches of the table. Alastair Pattrick Silk 1069 1. Incredibly well! Sitting 2nd in league in mid-December surely exceeds anyone’s wildest expectations. After a summer of turmoil, collapsed takeovers, and talk of slashed budgets I was fearing the worst. Maybe even following in Hyde’s footsteps. For a decent period of time we only had one player contracted. Yet somehow John Askey has worked his magic to put together a side full of quality and commitment on a shoestring. Unbeaten at home and with the joint-meanest defences in the league – a vast improvement on last year – it’s been a season full of enjoyable performances and results 2. I’m not sure there’s been one standout highlight, rather the season as a whole – especially at home – has been remarkable. If pushed I’d probably
Macclesfield Express Sport
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Macclesfield’s Historic Start
Courtesy of Mike Fryer.
Goalkeeper Rhys Taylor has been one of the stars of the solid Macclesfield defence this season.
Silkmen - The Season So Far
go for the selection of wonder goals we’ve been served up. Fairhurst’s 35yard thunderbolt against Chester the pick of a fine bunch. 3. With the defensive solidity you’ve got to look at the back line for stars. George Pilkington has been vital at the heart of it. Honourable mentions go to the immense Rhys Taylor, and Luke Waterfall during his loan. We haven’t scored many goals but when we do Waide Fairhurst is usually involved scoring or assisting more than half our goals, keeping him fit is vital to our creative output. 4. It would be fantastic to see us remain in the hunt for the playoffs. In an attempt to keep our feet on the ground we still need to travel to most of the top half sides, and our away
form has been poor. Also a lack of resources usually counts more as the season wears on. We could end up slipping to a comfortable midtable position but the fact promotion is even a realistic consideration is phenomenal. It’d be a brave man or woman who bets against a top five finish for the Silkmen. Simon Shaw Fan from Wilmslow
1. The season has surpassed expectations so far. The Silkmen look well on their way to be pushing for promotion back to the football league, having been considered relegation candidates prior to the season. As a fan you have to be pleased with how well the team are performing. 2. The highlight of
the season has definitely been the home form. Being a season ticket holder for the majority of my life i have witnessed most of the ups and downs, but Macc are yet to lost at home this season, and it’s definitely pleasing for the home crowd. 3. The star player for me has been Waide Fairhurst. He struggled to kick start his Macclesfield career initially, having been sent out on loan on a few occasions, but now he is vital to the Silkmen going forward being involved in the majority of the goals, and chipping in with a few assists too. 4. I would love to say that we can go for promotion, but the lack of funds could have an effect over the season. If we can keep players fit and improve our away
form then playoffs are realistic, but I’ll be safe and say a respectable mid table position. Jenna Mape Fan from Congleton
1. The season has been very exciting to this point. Macclesfield are sitting second in the league having not lost at home this season, and the squad have shown they are just as capable of defending as they are going forward which is the perfect mix. 2. My personal highlight of the season was the goal from left –back Scott Barrow running from the edge of his own box to the opposition area and then coolly slotting home, with a striker’s finish. It was a special goal. 3. My player of the season so far has to be goalkeeper Rhys Taylor.
He has been the saving grace for the Silkmen on a few occasions and has had a very solid season this far. 4. I’m going to be ambitious and say that Macclesfield will finish in the playoff picture this season. They have played a lot of hard games already this season and got a decent result. Despite the lack of funds their is a good group of players and if they can maintain the home form of the first half of the season there is no reason that they can’t secure a playoff spot. Matt Dalton Fan from Prestbury 1. Class. The past few years have been extremely hard for Macclesfield. Just about getting by each week and not knowing whether
you will even exist next week must take its toll on the players as much as the fans. Now things are really looking up for the Silkmen. It has been great watching the team this season, playing good football and getting good results. The teams around Macc in the league have more resources to work with so the team are punching above their weight but its good for the fans and gives us hope. 2. The highlight of the season is the re-signing of Matthew BarnesHomer. The striker used to be so crucial for Macc, bagging 20 goals in his first season with the club, so it was upsetting to see him leave. But now he is back on a permanent basis and he has been massive for
Macc this season when he has featured. 3. My player of the season has got to be the captain Paul Turnbull. He is a proper central midfielder and he is crucial as a playmaker for the Silkmen. With four goals this season he has shown up when needed, including grabbing a late winner in the late 2-1 home win over Woking. His influence as a captain appears to be having a positive impact on the team and he can take Macc back to the football league. 4. At the start of the season I would’ve been happy with a top half finish but I believe with the current group of players we have and the great home form to this point we should be expecting a playoff position, and hopefully go all the way.
Macclesfield Town are off to a flyer this season, sitting second in the Vanarama Conference, having not lost a single game at home this season. After years of financial turmoil for the club, this season has shown fans that there is still life in the club, and will certainly thank John Askey for leading them out of the storm. The Silkmen have the joint second best defence in the league conceding just 20 goals, the majority of which have been away from home, largely down to the efforts of Rhys Taylor and George Pilkington. Going forward, Macclesfield have been just as impressive, playing good attacking football to please the fans. Waide Fairhurst, in particular, has chipped in with seven goals of his own, while loan signing Luke Waterfall and the re-signing of Matthew Barnes-Homer have both been a huge boost to the Cheshire club. Captain Paul Turnbull has more than pulled his weight, coming up with important goals, and proving the crucial
cog in the midfield for Macclesfield, and he more than most would be ecstatic to see the Silkmen back in the Football League being a local lad. The goal of the season competition will be exciting with the fans being treated to feast of long range strikes, in the case of Waide Fairhurst, and long and winding runs, in the case of leftback Scott Barrow, and they’re can certainly be no room for complaint on the quality of the goals. However, the manager will be less than happy with the away form of the club and they will look to improve that, if they consider promotion a realistic objective. Nevertheless, this season has been extremely positive for Macclesfield, and they will hope that, if they fall short of promotion this season, then it will be a realistic target over the next few years, when they can recoup some funds. But they have done well considering the lack of resources available this season and fans will be hoping the good form can continue.
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Macclesfield Express Sport
George Pilkington tries to win the ball back for Macclesfield.
Courtesy of Mike Ripley.
Silkmen Lose in Cheshire Derby
Macclesfield Town were booted out of the FA Trophy after a first minute goal ensured local rivals Altrincham took the bragging rights. Macclesfield manager John Askey made several changes to the lineup and he may live to regret those changes as Damian Reeves put Altrincham up in the first minute, as he ran through the defence and hit a superb strike past stand-in goalkeeper Richie Branagan. Macclesfield had made a very slow start to the game and Altrincham nearly doubled their lead in the seventh minute when a low cross from Ryan Crowther caused problems for the Macclesfield defence before Alex Grant, on loan from Stoke City, made a vital clearance. Minutes later Crowther was given a sight of goal but his shot goes wide of the mark, as the Silkmen continued to struggle to formulate any sort of attacking threat. It took until the 15th
minute for Macclesfield to give the Altrincham defence something to think about as Waide Fairhurst whipped the ball in for Grant, the Altrincham defence only cleared as far as Andy Halls, who’s attempted cross went out for a goal kick. Chris Holroyd chased down Crowther to dispossess him and was adjudged to have fouled the winger, the subsequent free kick was cleared by the Macclesfield back line and a clash of heads caused a break in the game, and gave the Silkmen some time to re-group. In the 20th minute centre-back George Pilkington was booked for Macclesfield, conceding a free kick in a dangerous area. The Silkmen managed to eventually clear the ball, somewhat unconvincingly, but Altrincham waste the chance to get the ball back into the box. In spite of the fact it was far from a first choice team for
Macclesfield, they had really struggled to get into the game in the early stages, though they nearly carved out a chance when Artur Gnahoua was fouled on the edge of the box, though the referee played the advantage, and Fairhurst was crowded out in the box before he could get a shot away. The first half of football had been severely lacking in quality, in terms of either team, though the Macclesfield defence would’ve been delighted
Courtesy of Mike Ripley.
to see Crowther go off injured in the 35th minute, as he had been causing the defence several problems. Approaching half time Dave Parton had been a bystander in the Altrincham goal, though there was still optimism that the Silkmen would be able to claw their way back into the game. Just before the half time interval Altrincham striker Steven Gillespie got a shot off which was well saved by Branagan, who hadn’t been greatly troubled, despite the early goal.
No changes at half time, but Macclesfield started the brighter of the two teams as Liam Hogan powered forward before being brought down 25-yards from goal. Scott Barrow hit the subsequent free kick low into the wall and his second attempt at a cross went harmlessly out for a goal kick. Macclesfield continued to threaten as Fairhurst had a shot blocked and it fell to Holroyd but Altrincham managed to recover quickly and block the second effort, giving them some temporary respite. The Silkmen began to ring the changes with Fairhurst making way for Danny Whitaker and striker Matthew BarnesHomer coming on for defender Pilkington. However, in the 75th minute Whitaker was controversially sent off, as he brought down his man on the counter attack, despite the fact he wasn’t the last man. The red card had put Macclesfield firmly on the back foot, as
Altrincham came close, when defender Tom Marshall hit an acrobatic shot which cannoned back off the crossbar and away from danger, and moments later Simon Richman cut through the Macclesfield defence but lashed his shot over the bar. Into added time Macclesfield had their best chance of the game, but young defender Grant squandered his chance to equalise, putting his header just wide of Parton’s right hand post. Disappointment for the Silkmen as the final whistle sounded, and Askey was angry about the fixture list, after the game, saying: “After Wednesday’s game we had one or two players that needed resting, because we didn’t get back till 3.30 on Thursday morning.” The manager was clearly frustrated by the result, but more so by the fact that he had been forced to rest some of his starters due to the midweek game away at Aldershot Town.