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Macclesfield v Grimsby Preview

By: Sam Kinnaird
Date: 27/11/2009

THE Mariners travel to Cheshire to face fellow strugglers Macclesfield Town, with Neil Woods looking for a crucial first win in charge.

Home > 2009-2010 Season > Previews > Macclesfield (a)


Who are they?

Their History

Since being formed in 1874, Macclesfield have played under a number of different club names, including Macclesfield Football and Athletic Club, Hallifield F.C. and the current Macclesfield Town F.C. Much of their history has been spent playing non-league football, and their last promotion to League Two came in 1997. The following season saw continued success under manager Sammy Mcilroy, as the Silkmen finished 2nd in the table to win promotion to the current League One. The success had proved a step too far for the club, and immediate relegation followed with the side finishing the season bottom of the league. Mcilroy soon left the club to become Northern Ireland manager and a number of different managers attempted but failed to repeat the clubs success under the Irishman. In March 2004, the experienced Brian Horton took over a struggling League Two Macclesfield side, amazingly he kept them up and the following season they finished 5th losing in the play-off semi final to Lincoln City. The 2005-6 season proved a disappointment, as the club struggled to come to terms with the loss of many key players, and Horton was sacked in September 2005 having failed to win in 12 games. Former England midfielder Paul Ince took on Horton’s role and with the addition of some new players managed to keep the Silkmen up, and a day out at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea in the FA Cup. Paul Ince was then snapped up by MK Dons to become their new manager, and would eventually lead them to promotion. Ian Brightwell took over for an unsuccessful eight-month stint before ex-Town striker Keith Alexander took the manager’s job in February 2008. Last season the club finished League Two in 20th place, with 47 points.

Famous ex-Players

Ex-England, Inter Milan and Manchester United midfielder Paul Ince made his final appearance in football for Macclesfield when in May 2007 he played the final 5 minutes of the home game against Notts County. Current Southampton goal machine Rickie Lambert signed for Macclesfield from Blackpool in 2001, playing 44 games and scoring eight goals. Former midfielder Chris Priest, who has since retired, scored the final goal Football League goal of the last millennium when playing for Macclesfield.

What a game!

Wednesday, 13 February 2008

Town travelled to Macclesfield for a cold Tuesday night affair, having not lost in any of their last ten games. Danny North added to his growing reputation when he capitalised on a defensive error to lob home keeper Johnny Brain from 20 yards after just five minutes. The game saw few chances before young striker Gareth Evans volleyed in from close range on 79 minutes. With the game heading for a draw, Town midfielder Jamie Clarke secured the win with a stunning 20 yard volley. The Town defence stood firm to hold on to the three points and move Town to within sight of the play-off positions. Oh how far away those days seem now...

Key Player

Hamza Bencherif. The Algerian midfielder was born in Paris in 1988, and began his career with Nottingham Forest. He failed to make a first team appearance for the club, and was loaned to Lincoln City in 2007 where he made 12 appearances and scored one goal. A further two fruitless years with Forest saw him released in the summer and he was snapped up by Macclesfield, since then he has made 15 appearances and scored five goals. Bencherif has seven caps for the Algerian under 20s side and is tipped for full honours for the country that produced Zinedine Zidane, Samir Nasri and Karim Benzema. The young midfielder is full of energy, and has an eye for goal, something that wouldn't go amiss in Town’s current midfield.

Recent Form

TownMacclesfield
LBradford(h)0-3
DLincoln(a)0-0
DNorthampton(a)0-0
LLeeds (JPT)(a)1-3
LBath (FAC)(h)0-2
Currently 23rd in League Two.
LBournemouth(h)1-2
DAldershot(a)0-0
LMK Dons (FAC)(a)0-1
DBradford(h)2-2
DDagenham(h)2-2
Currently 19th in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownMacclesfield
Sweeney5
Conlon4
Bencherif5

Team News

TownMacclesfield

  • Joe Widdowson should return after missing the midweek game with a sore foot

  • New signings striker Ben Wright and midfielder Mark Hudsdon should feature.

  • Rob Atkinson is still suspended. Paul Linwood will continue in his place.

  • Adam Proudlock, Nathan Jarman and Robbie Stockdale are all still injured.
  • Ricky Sappleton (groin) is a doubt after limping off during last weekend`s 2-1 defeat against Bournemouth. Ben Wright stands by.

  • John Rooney (calf) faces a late fitness test.

  • Defender Sean Hessey (knee) has been out injured all season.
  • Squads

    TownMacclesfield
    1GKNick Colgan
    2DFRobbie Stockdale
    3DFJoe Widdowson
    5DFMatthew Heywood
    6MFPeter Sweeney
    7MFAdrian Forbes
    8FWNathan Jar man
    9FWAdam Proudlock
    10FWBarry Conlon
    11MFDanny Boshell
    12DFJamie Clarke
    13MFNick Hegarty
    14MFPeter Bore
    15DFMatthew Bird
    16DFPaul Linwood
    17MFGrant Normington
    18FWChris Jones
    19MFMichael Leary
    20MFJammal Shahin
    21FWMichael Coulson
    23MFOliver Lancashire
    24DFDamien McCrory
    25DFRob Atkinson
    26FWJean-Louis Akpa Akpro
    27FWDanny North
    28FWJosh Fuller
    29FWBradley Wood
    31MFNicky Featherstone
    TBAMFMark Hudson
    TBAFWBen Wright
    35GKLeigh Overton
    1 GK Jonny Brain
    2 MF Izak Reid
    3 DF Carl Tremarco
    4 DF Sean Hessey
    5 DF Nat Brown
    6 DF Paul Morgan
    7 MF Lee Bell
    8 MF Ross Draper
    9 FW Emile Sinclair
    10 DF Stephen Reed (on loan at Grays Athletic)
    11 FW Ben Wright
    12 FW Kyle Wilson
    13 GK José Veiga
    14 MF John Rooney
    15 MF Paul Bolland
    16 DF Shaun Brisley
    17 MF Colin Daniel
    18 FW Kristian Dennis (on loan at Woodley Sports)
    19 DF Matthew Lowe
    20 MF Hamza Bencherif
    21 MF Tyrone Kirk (on loan at Rhyl)
    22 FW Ricky Sappleton (on loan from Leicester City)
    23 FW Matthew Tipton
    24 FW Vinny Mukendi
    25 MF Michael Thomas

    Head to Head

    The two clubs never met before 2004, and since then the record has been very equally shared. In the ten games they've played, Macclesfield have won three and Town have won two. Town have only won one of the last seven and Macclesfield have only lost once in that time. The clubs met on the final day of last season when all 22 players seemed to already be on the beach, a dire 0-0 ensued.

    P 10 W2 D5 L3 F 10 A 11

    Head-to-Head (70th on The Opposition Ladder)

    Last Meeting

    Grimsby 0 Macclesfield 0 (Sat 02nd May 2009)

    A fairly meaningless end of season game.

    Report

    Prediction

    The Fishy Prediction

    Having had their game postponed in the week Macclesfield should be well rested, Town desperately need the points but I can't see them coming here.

    Macclesfield 2-1 Town

    Reader's POMs

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