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Preview: Macclesfield v Grimsby

By: Kevin Dolan
Date: 23/02/2007

GRIMSBY Town look to continue their good form and round off a fantastic month in style as they travel to strugglers Macclesfield.

Home > 2006-2007 Season > Previews > Macclesfield (a)


The Opposition

Overview
Macclesfield are used to tense seasons. Brian Horton was appointed manager in March 2004 with the club facing relegation to the Conference, but managed to keep the club up and the following season exceeded expectations by getting the club into the play offs, only to lose to Lincoln. Last season was a disappointment, not helped by losing their two top scorers from the previous season (Matthew Tipton and Jon Parkin), and despite a mid season revival they still had to wait until the final day of the season before confirming league status. A victim of his own success, Horton was sacked after a disastrous start to this season. The Silkmen then pulled off a scoop, albeit a gamble, in appointing Paul Ince (left).

The Silkmen have had a remarkable season. They failed to win any of their first 19 league games and at the beginning of December sat 11 points from safety and looked almost certainly doomed. However a mini-FA Cup run (where they defeated Walsall and Hartlepool) dramatically kick-started their season and they collected 19 points out of 21 throughout December and new year, pulling them right back in contention.

The Team
Macclesfield currently lie 21st in League 2, eight points behind Town. After their wretched start, their home form has significantly improved and they have only lost one of their last nine league and cup games at Moss Rose (to Walsall). However, The Silkmen come into the game with seven points from their last seven games and are in the midst of a difficult set of fixtures.

Alan Navarro was on trial at Blundell Park during the summer of 2005, but ended up signing for Macclesfield. Top scorer this season is left back Kevin McIntyre (left) with eight goals although seven of them have been penalties. Defender Andrew Teague scored at Blundell Park in the 1-1 draw in September, but has lost his place and not played since November. Striker Matthew Tipton has returned to the club on a season loan from Bury, but has failed to fully establish himself and has only two goals so far.

Key Player
Midfielder Martin Bullock (left) is one of the most experienced players at the club with over 400 league appearances, namely for Barnsley (including the season in the Premiership) and Blackpool. Renowned for his goals from distance, Bullock notched seven goals last season and has four so far this.

Recent Form

TownMacclesfield
WWrexham(h)2-1
WMansfield(a)2-1
WBristol R(h)4-3
WBoston(a)6-0
LDarlington(h)0-1
Currently 16th in League Two.
LHarlepool(a)2-3
WPeterborough(h)2-1
DDarlington(h)1-1
LWalsall(h)0-2
LSwindon(a)0-2
Currently 21st in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownMacclesfield
Bore8
Toner6
McIntyre8
Murphy7

Team News

TownMacclesfield

  • Martin Paterson has completed his loan spell and returned to Stoke; Danny North is the likely replacement.

  • James Hunt has extended his loan spell for another month.

  • Gary Croft is available for selection again after struggling with an injury in recent weeks.
  • Jamie Tolley and Ash Holgate will both have late fitness tests, but Macclesfield are likely to stick with the same line up for the third successive match.
  • Probable Teams

    TownMacclesfield
    1Phil Barnes
    29Matthew Bloomer
    6Justin Whittle
    5Nick Fenton
    3Tom Newey
    18Peter Bore
    16Danny Boshell
    25James Hunt
    8Paul Bolland
    10Ciaran Toner
    22Danny North
    13Tommy Lee
    2Carl Regan
    4David Morley
    5Danny Swailes
    14Kevin McIntyre
    8Colin Heath
    7Alan Navarro
    17Jordan Hadfield
    6Martin Bullock
    10John Miles
    26John Murphy

    Subs

    TownMacclesfield
    13Robert Murray
    24Simon Grand
    2John McDermott
    19Gary Jones
    7Isaiah Rankin
    31David Rouse
    19James Jennings
    24Rob Scott
    12Matthew Tipton
    16Izak Reid

    Head to Head

    The two teams have only ever met five times (all in the last three seasons) and both teams have recorded one victory each so far.

    P 5 W 1 D 3 L 1 F 6 A 6

    Macclesfield Head-to-Head (48th on The Opposition Ladder)

    Last Meeting

    Town’s last visit should have been the penultimate game of last season, but The Mariners had to settle for a point despite Gary Jones’ opening the scoring.

    29-Apr-2006
    Macclesfield1 - 1Grimsby
    Richardson 43
    G Jones 40
      

    Macclesfield Team: Fettis, Morley, Brightwell, Swailes, Harsley, Miles (Bullock, 59), Whitaker, Navarro, McIntyre, Richardson, McNeil
    Subs (not used): Townson, Teague, Deasy, Smart

    Grimsby Team: Mildenhall, Cohen, Whittle, R Jones (Futcher, 27), Croft, Parkinson, Bolland, Woodhouse, Goodfellow (Toner, 79), Reddy (Mendes, 69), G Jones
    Subs: (not used) Kalala, Downey

    Attendance: 3,849  Report

    Bookings: Cohen, Woodhouse (Grimsby) Walters (Macclesfield)

    Prediction

    Macclesfield 1-1 Town

    Reader's POMs

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    Click on the link for ticket prices to Moss Rose.

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