A league of their own – Silkmen stand on the verge of promotion
Will Bamber Bridge spoil the party?
One more sleep. That’s all it could be before Macclesfield FC officially become champions of the Northern Premier League, and in doing so seal their promotion to the National League North. Even in the most optimistic Silkmen fan’s wildest dreams, few could have expected Macc to be on the cusp of promotion in March, 20 points clear at the top of the league with seven games still remaining.
Tomorrow marks 320 days since the club suffered the dejection (and ridicule from some) of losing the NPL play-off final against Marine in front of a packed house of expectant supporters. The Leasing.com stadium will once again be expecting a capacity crowd on Saturday, but hopefully there will be scenes of ecstasy, joy and relief at the final whistle.
Only second-placed Worksop can deny Robbie Savage’s team’s celebrations now. Quite simply, if Worksop fail to beat Warrington Rylands away Macclesfield will be up. Due to the Silkmen’s sizable goal difference (+60 compared to Worksop’s +37), a draw is likely to unofficially seal the deal even if Worksop triumph, but a win for Macc will remove all doubt. The stage is set.
Can Bamber Bridge delay Macc’s promotion party?
Success isn’t a given, however, and standing in Macclesfield’s way tomorrow are Bamber Bridge – a team fighting for their lives at the other end of the table just two places and four points clear of safety. The visitor’s will be doing everything they can to spoil the Silkmen’s promotion party and are on a decent run of form themselves – two wins and a draw from their previous four fixtures with victories gained over fellow NPL strugglers Blyth Spartans and Matlock Town, plus a draw against play-off chasing Morpeth.
In December, Macc travelled to Bamber Bridge and emerged with a 2-0 win with first half goals from Neil Kengni and D’Mani Mellor following a goalkeeping howler. The scoreline didn’t reflect the whole story though as the hosts pushed hard to get back into the game, only to be denied by a wonder save by Max Dearnley and a last-ditch clearance off the line by Sam Heathcote late on.
But the Silkmen on their own patch, cheered on by raucous home support with the encouragement of Savage ringing in their ears, will be expected to get over the line.
How good is our team?
Victory tomorrow will see Macclesfield FC become the first club within the top seven tiers of English football to win promotion, as well as the top four tears in Scotland
At 2.51 points, the Silkmen currently have the highest points-per-game (PPG) tally in England and Scotland
Only Celtic have scored more league goals than Macc at present, 89 goals compared to 86
With 28 goals, Danny Elliott is presently the top league scorer in the top seven tiers in English football, one ahead of Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah
How good is our manager?
Robbie Savage is destined to win the Northern Premier League title in his first season of management. Ironically, this feat was achieved by Macclesfield Town player-manager Frank Beaumont who won the Northern Premier League in its first year of the league’s formation in 1968 - Beaumont’s inaugural season as manager
Several accomplished football managers began their managerial careers in non-league, including: Howard Wilkinson and the late Jim Smith (Boston United), Martin O’Neill (Wycombe Wanderers), Nigel Clough (Burton Albion), Neil Warnock (Gainsborough Trinity), Graham Potter (Leeds Carnegie) and Chris Wilder (Alfreton Town)
Current Sheffield United boss Wilder won a league title in his first season in management at Alfreton, albeit two rungs down the football pyramid than Savage, in the ninth tier Northern Counties (East) League Premier Division with Alfreton
How good was Macc’s 4-0 thumping of Morpeth last week?
The Silkmen all but guaranteed promotion to the National League North by delivering the performance of champions in sweeping aside an in-form Morpeth side 4-0 last week. And for five short, but delirious second-half minutes, Macc were on course to win the Northern Premier League title until two late strikes in the 83rd and 87th minutes gave Worksop a 3-1 win over Hyde United to delay matters for another week, or possibly longer if results don’t go our way tomorrow!
The Silkmen had to survive a couple of scares in the first half before we gradually took command. Loose play by Tre Pemberton put Paul Dawson under pressure, who in turn played an underhit back pass which landed Macc in trouble. The ball was eventually squared to a Morpeth attacker but his shot was saved by the legs of Max Dearnley to thwart an excellent chance for the home side.
An uncharacteristic error from Max himself saw him spill a corner a few minutes later, he partially smothered the rebound, and the ball was eventually cleared to safety. There were half-hearted appeals from Morpeth that the ball had crossed the line, but this seemed more in hope than belief.
From there, Macc gradually took over. A flowing move where play was switched from right to left culminated in a cross from Sean Etaluku which was met by the head of Luke Duffy, who was denied by a magnificent point blank save from Dan Langley in goal. Etaluku then forced a sprawling save from Langley from his low drive which lacked power following a flick on by D’Mani Mellor.
But on the stroke of half-time the Silkmen did get their noses in front, with Laurent Mendy rising highest to score with a towering header at the back post from John Rooney’s corner – Mendy’s first goal of the season and Macc’s 18th different goalscorer within this scintillating league campaign. 0-1.
It got better in first-half injury time. Danny Elliott latched on to a long punt downfield by Lewis Fensome, snuck in between the two Morpeth centre-halves and toe-poked the ball which looped over Langley into the net. 0-2. Those with good memories will recall Elliott scoring with a similar effort against Hebburn at home earlier in the season.
The champions elect turned on the style in an immensely satisfying second half. A neat ball from Rooney produced a good first touch from Luke Duffy which saw him create space in the box to shoot and he fired-in Macc’s third from six yards after 55 minutes. 0-3. And it got even better. John Rooney’s curling effort was partially saved by Langley, the loose ball was picked up by Danny Elliott who was subsequently bundled over in the box to earn the Silkmen a penalty. Elliott duly stepped up and converted the spot-kick, firing the ball low and hard into the bottom right corner to make it 0-4.
Player ratings
Dearnley 7.5 – Clean sheet number 19 for Max this season. Made a vital stop to keep the scoreline 0-0 when Macc were masters of their own downfall in the first half. Spilled a corner, but redeemed himself by preventing the rebound from crossing the line in an otherwise quiet afternoon.
Dawson 7.5 – his underhit backpass gifted a big chance to Morpeth in the first half, but Dearnley spared the skipper’s blushes. Apart from this, Dawson produced an assured display and sprayed some delightful long balls out to the flanks.
Fensome 7 – went off after an hour after picking up a knock which might make him a doubt to start against Bamber Bridge. His long punt forward led to Danny Elliott putting Macc 2-0 up.
Menayese 7 – steady Eddie at the back for Macc. Kept his passing simple and was rarely troubled.
Pemberton 7.5 – Busy performance up-and-down from the best right back in the NPL. Did produce one sloppy piece of play which led to a Morpeth chance in the first half, but was faultless outside of that.
Rooney 9 – Two more assists for Roo as his class shone. His corner led to Mendy’s opener, then his crisp pass was weighted perfectly into the path of Duffy who made it three. Rooney himself might have gotten on the scoresheet, only for this second half effort to cannon off the bar and his other strike was parried away by the keeper in the build-up to Elliott winning the penalty.
Mendy 8 – At long last, a thoroughly deserved goal and what a fantastic header it was. Has been excellent since moving back into midfield and his athleticism and skill in the middle of the park will make him a huge asset next season.
Etaluku 8 – Picked to play left wingback ahead of Kengni and Lee – a mark of Savage’s faith in him – and the youngster justified his selection with an excellent display. Was once again denied an assist when Duffy’s first-half header was miraculously saved by the Morpeth keeper, and Etaluku might have done better himself with a snapshot. Defended soundly and offered a threat in the final third. His most accomplished game yet for Macc.
Duffy 8 – Saw his header somehow saved in the first half, but scored a well taken goal ten minutes after the break, showing a good first touch and precise finish to despatch the ball into the net for his ninth of the season. Looks a natural in the number 10 position.
Mellor 7 – Busy in the final third without being granted much of a sniff at goal. Went closest when hitting the side netting from a Pemberton cross early on.
Elliott 8.5 – notched his 27th and 28th league goals of a wonderful season. May not have known too much about his first, although he was rewarded for his endeavour in pursuing Fensome’s long ball which led to confusion in the Morpeth backline. He ‘won’ his penalty after going down somewhat easily under a challenge in the area, which you can praise Elliott for being ‘streetwise’. And as ever, he despatched his spot-kick with aplomb. Another excellent afternoon for our top scorer.
Subs:
Heathcote 7 – replaced Fensome after an hour.
Kengni 7 – came on at left wingback for Etaluku at 3-0.
De Girolamo – no rating. on for Elliott immediately after Danny made it 4-0.
Lee – no rating. Replaced Pemberton late on.
Whitehead – no rating. On for Menayese at the end.