Macclesfield FC’s season won’t be defined by our upcoming fixtures, but we’re likely to get a stronger indication as to whether John Rooney’s men are automatic promotion contenders or play-off hopefuls. (Photo credit: Chelsie Ann Louise.)
The Silkmen currently sit third in the National League North, four points behind early pacesetters Hereford who visit the Leasing.com stadium on 24th October. Hereford, currently the league’s top scorers with also the meanest defence, should present formidable opposition in a challenging month which could also see Macc play three other sides in the current top 8 - South Shields, Oxford City (subject to FA Cup qualifiers) and Bedford.
Of course, the Silkmen have nothing to fear and have genuine promotion aspirations of their own having lost only one of their opening nine league fixtures. However, a winless run of three games against the caveat that Macc have played six matches against sides who currently sit 15th, 17th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 24th place suggests that optimism should be tempered.
Spennymoor frustrations
The manner in which Macclesfield drew 1-1 at bottom-of-the-table Spennymoor has drawn criticism from supporters who witnessed a frustrating afternoon. 1-0 up and dominating proceedings thanks to Fin Shrimpton’s accurate first-half finish, Macc took their foot off the gas in the second half and conceded a sloppy penalty late on.
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson overcommitted and wiped out Junior Mondial in the box and the spot kick was converted by Danny Johnson in the 81st minute. CBJ duly received his marching orders for a second yellow card offence – the Silkmen’s second sending off in the week after fellow centre half Tom Wilson was sent off against Scarborough for a high boot.
It never rains but it pours as Rooney has had to reshuffle his back four with Ammar Dyer at left back due to the continued absence of the injured Lincoln McFayden and Luis Lacey, in addition to the comebacking Paul Dawson having to fill the void at centre half and Elliot Osborne at right back while Luke Matheson returns to fitness.
Rooney’s men, thanks in part to goalkeeper Christian Dibble, have been much tighter at the back so far this season – four clean sheets and only six goals conceded. But with us misfiring in attack (more on that below) we can ill-afford to be giving away chances so cheaply.
Spennymoor’s equaliser was infuriating on many levels. Makeshift right back Osborne was too high up the pitch, Spennymoor exploit the space down Macclesfield’s left wing which prompts Wilson to abandon his central defensive position to thwart the danger but it’s already too late.
Wilson can’t get back and recover in time, but worse, Osborne is trotting back at snail’s pace as if he’s having a Sunday stroll.
That leaves Borthwick-Jackson in a foot race with Mondal where he has a decision to make – lunge in and attempt to win the ball, or stand your ground and attempt to force Mondal wide. CBJ chose the former and the penalty award was inevitable.
A bad result, not a bad performance
Was Macclesfield’s display at Spennymoor any worse than our previous, largely disjointed league games this season?
I’d argue ‘no’ and in terms of chance creation it was the most threatening we’ve looked since we beat Radcliffe at home. We had more of the ball (62% possession) and created at least 5 significant goalscoring opportunities.
The Silkmen registered 16 efforts on goal (our highest this season was 17) and had an xG (expected goals tally) of 2.74. In contrast, Spennymoor had 12 attempts with an xG of 2.04, but bare in mind that penalties typically carry an xG of 0.78 because historically about 78% of penalties are converted.
We’ve spoken about Macc being slow out of the blocks. Not so on this occasion. We began on the front foot and mustered 11 shots in the first half alone. Adan George’s flick from a corner was kept out by an excellent reaction save, Ammar Dyer got in behind but failed to find a Silkmen shirt having jinked into a golden position in the box, Shrimpton lashed wide when off-balance in the box but did eventually give the Silkmen the lead when receiving Paul Dawson’s perfect pass and drilling into the bottom corner.
Macc’s second half performance dipped as Spennymoor came back into it, however on another day it could easily have been 2-0. Luke Duffy failed to turn in Adan George’s floated cross at the back post, electing to strike the ball with his favoured right foot when he was better placed to convert with his left. Elliot Osborne had a header cleared off the line from a corner and Shrimpton’s follow-up shot was blocked.
And even after Spennymoor drew level, George Wilson was sent racing clear from a Danny Elliott clearance but a dreadful touch sent him wide and he dragged his shot past the post from a tighter angle.
Macclesfield have certainly played worse this season and won, but given the context that managerless Spennymoor are rock bottom and the Silkmen are now winless in three league games, this was definitely two points dropped in contrast to Scarborough at home which represented a point gained.
Barn doors and banjos
Whatever your favourite analogy, the Silkmen’s potency in front of goal is currently deserting them. Our top scorers are Duffy (3), Elliott (3 in the league, 1 in the cup), George (2), Shrimpton (2), Ustabasi (1) and an own goal from Hebburn. 12 goals in 9 league games, with two blanks (Spalding and Scarborough).
On a positive, we ARE creating chances but our composure in the final third is letting us down, much to John Rooney’s understandable annoyance. So far this season, Macclesfield have had:
· 113 attempts on goal, but only 39 on target (34%)
· 73 of our attempts have come away from home (64% overall), however our finishing on the road has been woeful
· Marine 17 (1 on target), Spalding 17 (2 on target), Darlington 12 (2 on target, but goals from Elliott), Merthyr 11 (5 on target), Spennymoor 16 (3 on target)
The contribution of our forward players in the league warrants scrutiny
· Duffy: 3 goals (none in 5), 1 assist, 26 shots (6 on target), 18 chances created, 26 dribbles (15 successful)
· Ustabasi: 1 goal (none in 5), 1 assist, 13 shots (6 on target), 9 chances created, 16 dribbles (8 successful)
· George: 2 goals, 0 assists, 15 shots (8 on target), 7 chances created, 11 dribbles (6 successful)
· Elliott: 3 goals, 0 assists, 13 shots (4 on target), 2 chances created, 6 dribbles (5 successful)
The above numbers don’t make for pleasant reading, apart from Danny Elliott’s considering he’s our joint top scorer having yet to start a league game and averaging only 25 minutes per substitute appearance.
I’ve praised Adan George and Jon Ustabasi for their workrate, but they simply aren’t influencing games regular enough although George has improved more recently. Ustabasi on the other hand looks totally lost, which is quite remarkable considering his status as one of the premier forwards in the National League North having registered a host of goals and assists in recent seasons.
I thought Ustabasi was a conventional winger, but he rarely attacks the byline or gets in behind. Perhaps he’s better suited as more of an inside forward in a 4-3-3 formation, although he has been often careless in possession in the final third (around 60% passing accuracy) that Macclesfield’s attacks frequently amount to nothing when he’s on the ball, nor is he regularly troubling opposition keepers either.
Rooney’s tried switching ‘Basi from the left to the right flank, however this appears to have coincided with a dip in form for Luke Duffy – a standout performer for the Silkmen in 2026, chief creator and a reliable goalscorer.
Both players need to take responsibility and rediscover the form that make them amongst the finest attacking talents in this division. There’s also an argument to suggest that we aren’t playing to their strengths – both have thrived in a 4-3-3, yet both have had to fulfil more defensive duties in 4-2-3-1 and 4-1-4-1 set-ups this season.
Duffy in particular has played right midfield, left midfield, attacking midfield / ‘number 10’, right wing and left wing. He’s done his main damage on the right, so moving him to the left to try and kickstart Ustabasi into form may prove counter productive.
It was frustratingly ironic that Duffy missed a guilt edged chance at Spennymoor when coming in from the left and attempting to steer Adan George’s floated cross towards goal by stretching with his right foot, rather than striking it with his left which was better positioned to connect with the ball.
Rooney has persisted with Duffy and Ustabasi in preference to turning to his bench for solutions. Veron Parny, signed as a trialist in the summer, has barely featured and Rooney still doesn’t appear to trust Theo Chapman as a substitute or a starter, although Chapman did start against Redcar in the 2-1 FA Cup qualifier triumph and played 79 minutes.
Reasons for optimism
Its been a disappointing spell, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Captain Paul Dawson has returned following a seven-game ban and our midfield looked far more balanced and threatening with him alongside Shrimpton and George Wilson in a 4-3-3 at Spennymoor.
Dawson laid on a lovely assist for Fin’s well-taken strike and Macclesfield’s captain also had five attempts on goal (none on target, however). But the most pleasing thing is that Macc had a drive and a degree of urgency that has often been lacking in the middle of the park this season.
Danny Elliott, nursed back to fitness following an ACL injury sustained in December, is getting fitter and stronger all the time. Four goals for Danny already this season, including one at Redcar on Saturday and 82 minutes on the field until he was substituted. With Adan George absent at Redcar and rumoured to have strained his hamstring, Elliott looks primed to be let loose from the off in the league.
(Photo credit: Chelsie Ann Louise)
In addition, the much-maligned, love-him-or-hate-him Josh Kay is imminently expected back following his ten match ban due to incidents against Chorley (a red card after the full-time whistle and a subsequent accusation of biting) and Darlington (an off-the-ball incident which felled a Darlington player).
Kay was absent for around 13 games last season due to three red cards sustained against Marine, Bedford and Chorley, plus an injury which sidelined him for part of November and December. The former Oldham player did finish the season strongly, scoring vital goals away at Merthyr and at home to Chester in the play-offs in an unfamiliar striking position.
Opinion seems divided amongst Silkmen supporters regarding the wisdom of Rooney’s decision to bring Kay back to the club due to his disciplinary issues, likely lofty wages and inconsistent end product in terms of goals and assists.
On the flip side, Josh’s tenacity (when controlled), energy and ability to spot a run with a well-timed pass has been missed.
At a time when Rooney needs a spark from his most influential players, the stage is set for Elliott, Dawson and Kay to grab this season by the scruff of the neck (but not too hard, lads), starting against Harborough in the league this weekend.