Macc facing fixture pile-up / Fylde preview
Silkmen to play 8 games in Jan and counting...
Welcome to this Monday evening edition of the Silkmen News where we reflect on how a congested fixture programme could derail Macclesfield’s ambitions, whilst highlighting grains of optimism ahead of tomorrow evening’s juicy encounter away at AFC Fylde.
Macclesfield’s squad is facing a severe test of its credentials amidst a fixture pile-up. As well as chasing a play-off spot in the National League North, John Rooney’s in-form team are still competing in the FA Cup and FA Trophy competitions (not to mention the Cheshire Senior Cup).
But this success, combined with some atrocious recent weather conditions which have caused multiple postponements, has culminated in a fixture backlog that threatens to stretch the club’s threadbare squad to breaking point.
Upcoming November and December fixtures (league games unless otherwise stated)
Tuesday’s game at promotion favourites AFC Fylde begins a run of seven out of nine fixtures away from home for Macclesfield, in direct contrast to us playing nine out of our previous ten matches at home.
AFC Fylde (a) - Tue 25 Nov
Scarborough Athletic (h) - Sat 29 Nov
Slough Town (a) - Sun 7 Dec - FA Cup Round 2
South Shields (a) - Sat 13 Dec - FA Trophy Round 3
Bedford Town (a) - Tue 16 Dec
Alfreton Town (a) - Sat 20 Dec
Buxton (h) - Fri 26 Dec
Chester (a) - Tue 30 Dec
Although likely to impact the Silkmen’s play-off push in the league, the recent postponements at Hereford and King’s Lynn, both due to waterlogged pitches, should mean that the squad is fresh for the huge FA Cup clash against Slough - with the money-spinning prize of a potential clash with one of the ‘big boys’ in the third round draw at stake.
That said, Saturday’s late, late call to postpone the match at King’s Lynn’s Walk Stadium remains a bitter pill to swallow for Macclesfield’s supporters, many of who made over an eight-hour round trip for nothing. The decision to call off the game at 2.20pm, after a previous pitch inspection at 1.15 deemed it could go ahead despite pockets of standing water following a surge of torrential rainfall, was infuriating.
Whilst neither Macclesfield’s fans or players are disputing that the right call was made with player safety taking priority, the timing of the call was controversial due to the home side’s lack of urgency to engage a local official to inspect the pitch earlier in the day.
New Year fixtures coming thick and fast
Today’s confirmation that Macclesfield’s twice re-arranged visit to Hereford in the NLN will now take place on 20 January means that Rooney’s men will play at least eight fixtures in January alone.
But it’s likely to get worse. The league game with King’s Lynn needs to be re-scheduled, and IF the Silkmen progress against Slough AND South Shields in the FA Cup and FA Trophy respectively, they could face a triple fixture clash on the same date as the home league game against Kidderminster is also currently pencilled in for 10 January.
Current January schedule (league games unless otherwise stated)
Darlington (a) - Sat 3 Jan
Radcliffe (h) - Tue 6 Jan (re-arranged due to our progression in the FA Cup)
Kidderminster Harriers (h) - Sat 10 Jan (league) / FA Cup R3 / FA Trophy R4
Oxford City (h) - Sat 17 Jan
Hereford (a) - Tue 20 Jan
Worksop Town (a) - Sat 24 Jan
Peterborough Sports (a) - Tue 27 Jan
Bedford Town (h) - Sat 31 Jan
Macc are currently ‘free’ on the following Tuesday’s which could be selected to play the re-scheduled King’s Lynn game on - 13 Jan, 3 Feb or 17 Feb. Given that the Hereford clash has been slated for 20 Jan, it seems more feasible that we will have to travel to King’s Lynn in February. But this would still mean that the squad will face a punishing run of at least 8 games in January and 7 in February to commence 2026.
Without urgent reinforcements drafted in to support John Rooney, surely something has to give?
Reinforcements or recalls?
Despite being more financially prudent as the newly formed Board of Directors flex their muscles (pending an update from the club!), the Silkmen have showed a willingness to bolster the squad following the loss of Sean Etaluku to Forest Green.
Young keeper Shea Callister has been signed on duel registration terms from Maghull FC, whilst 22-year-old attacking midfielder Max Woltman has recently joined on a ‘short-term’ deal.
But with respect to Woltman and Callister, the inexperienced duo are more squad fillers than first-team starters. Elliott Whitehouse and Dontai Gabidon, currently on loan at Peterborough Sports and Warrington Town, respectively could be recalled to boost the Silkmen’s ranks for the busy run of fixtures ahead.
However, Gabidon can’t be recalled until 10 December and Whitehouse will remain at Peterborough until the end of January. In the meantime, this may open the door for more of the Silkmen’s youngsters who were so impressive in the recent 4-1 demolition of Congleton in the Cheshire Cup.
It remains to be seen whether John Rooney will be able to persuade Blackburn Rovers to extend the loan of midfielder James Edmondson beyond the 31 January. Fortunately, attacking midfielder Josh Kay will remain on loan from Oldham until the end of the season.
The Christmas / New Year period is a notoriously difficult time to recruit, but the Silkmen News will be suggesting some potential transfer targets in a forthcoming feature. And who knows… maybe a percentage of funds generated from our FA Cup run will be allocated to Rooney to invest in the first-team?
One player who could have made a difference is Luke Griffiths. The holding midfielder, signed on a short-term deal from Curzon, made just two substitute appearances for Macclesfield before being deemed surplus to requirements. Griffiths has since being a revelation after signing for Southport which has coincided with the Sandgrounders going five games unbeaten to haul themselves out of the NLN relegation zone.
Jekyll and Hyde AFC Fylde
Tomorrow’s match at Fylde represents a true test of the Silkmen’s play-off mettle. Despite winning four of our last five league games, including the scalp of the previously unbeaten table-toppers South Shields, only one of this run of fixtures has come away from home - a 1-0 victory over a woeful Leamington side who currently sit bottom of the table.
Fylde will be a far sterner test, however their home league form is patchy at best as the following stats highlight.
Fylde are second in the table with 38 points from 18 games, whilst Macc occupy 13th place on 25 points but with three league games in hand
Fylde’s home league record stands at won 4, drawn 2, lost 3, but they’ve lost their last two home matches against Buxton (2-1) and South Shields (4-2), plus they also suffered a shock 3-2 home defeat against Worksop last month. In contrast Fylde have the best away record in NLN, winning 8 and losing 1 of their 9 fixtures on the road
Fylde have failed to keep a clean sheet in 8 of their 9 games at home, and in none of their last 6 home games
Fylde have also conceded the joint highest number of goals (16) at home in the NLN, level with third-placed Merthyr Town
So clearly Fylde can be vulnerable on their own Mill Farm pitch with new manager Craig Mahon under a modicum of pressure for the first time after taking over the relegated National League side in the summer.
The Silkmen’s chances of success could hinge on whether Josh Kay is fit enough to play after the Oldham loanee wasn’t even named on the bench for Saturday’s aborted fixture against King’s Lynn. If Kay doesn’t make it, expect Luke Duffy to deputise in the attacking midfield role behind star striker Danny Elliott.