Match preview: Macc vs Stockton Town

Form guide & betting odds as 3rd plays 6th

I’d be interested in subscriber feedback as I’m conscious this might be ‘content overload’ in your inbox from me this week. If so, apologies, I’m still finding my feet with this site after setting it up on a whim.

My original plan was to only do a match report from Macc’s U21’s fixture against Stalybridge on Sunday. But I found time to review the Hyde game and felt there were some interesting discussion points worth raising, then came the leftfield signing of D’Mani Mellor yesterday (prompting some interesting views from fans of Mellor’s former clubs!), and now this latest article today.

I’ve been toying with providing short previews of Macc games and making this content only available to subscribers (still for free) after seeing a boost in numbers. Unfortunately, Facebook on occasion has removed some of my posts because it classes Substack articles as ‘spam’ or ‘advertising’. I digress…

Stockton preview

The unbeaten Macc could go top of the league this weekend with a win away at Stockton Town in a clash which pits third against sixth as Robbie Savage’s side make the long trip to Teeside.

If the Silkmen do climb to the Northern Premier League summit no one can say they don’t deserve it, given they’ve played Hyde (1^st), Worksop (4^th), Guiseley (7^th), Ilkeston (8^th), Whitby (13^th) and Prescot (19^th). Oh, and there’s then the small matter of Ashton at home next Tuesday who currently sit second in the table.

In Stockton, Macc are facing a club very much on the up who has risen from humble beginnings. ‘The Anchors’ are competing at Step Three for the first time in their history, having clinched promotion from the NPL East Division with a dramatic play-off final victory over Dunston in May. After trailing 2-0 at half-time, Stockton scored in the sixth-minute of injury time to make it 3-3 and take the game to extra-time. Once more they fell behind, but rallied to take the game to penalties, winning the shoot-out 5-3.

Anchors have made an impressive start to the season

Stockton have retained the nucleus of their promotion-winning squad, keeping the potent attacking threats of Michael Sweet, Stephen Thompson and Michael Fowler who have all been amongst the goals this season (Sweet 4, Thompson 3 and Fowler 1). But they are without last season’s top scorer Kevin Hayes (25 goals) who faces an extended spell on the sidelines after he was stretchered off against Whitby in pre-season.

Stockton will be a threat having scored in every league game so far, registering 12 goals in winning four and losing two of their opening six fixtures. However, the Anchors also appear susceptible at the back having conceding nine goals against them, including eight in three games versus Prescot, Morpeth and Hyde.

Interestingly, Macc and Stockton have played four of the same teams so far this season making comparisons somewhat easier. Like the Silkmen, the Anchors also triumphed against Guiseley (3-1), Prescot (3-2) and Whitby (2-0, in which Stephen Thompson scored a 35-yard screamer). However perhaps more notably, Stockton were beaten 4-1 away at Hyde in comparison to Macc drawing 1-1 against them at home in a game they ought to have won.

Further research of Stockton’s loss to Hyde suggests the 4-1 scoreline possibly flattered the league-leaders. Trailing 3-1, Stockton looked more likely to reduce the deficit only to concede a fourth in injury time. Stockton’s other league defeat came away at Morpeth (2-1), but they have since returned to winning ways by beating Whitby and keeping a clean sheet.

Selection posers for Robbie Savage

Despite the frustration of missing out on going top by drawing against Hyde, Robbie Savage has made an excellent start to his Silkmen managerial career with four wins out of 6. It will be interesting to see whether he opts to continue with Paul Dawson in defence, or plays him in his more customary central midfield position.

Captain Marvel Daws made a strong contribution when being switched to midfield in the second half against Hyde, with the fit-again Sam Heathcote coming off the bench to take Dawson’s place at centre half where he was faultless. And if Savage needed a reminder of what Dawson offers from the engine room, his second half hat-trick off the bench in the FA Cup against Tadcaster was a timely reminder.

The Silkmen’s head coach’s other selection dilemmas are likely to be who misses out between Elliot Whitehouse and Alex Curran, both who have struggled to produce their best form so far this season. Curran was withdrawn at half-time against Hyde, whereas Whitehouse came on for Dawson in the 81^st minute who was struggling with cramp. Elliot has also recently celebrated the birth of his son Freddie, which may come into Savage’s thinking.

The other fascinating caveat is who gets the nod upfront and which of Macc’s forwards will make the bench. Savage’s patience with striker Danny Elliott appeared to be wearing thin after he replaced him with Tom Clare after 59 minutes against Hyde. New signings Ali Hayder, Edy Maieco and D’Mani Mellor will all be pushing to feature, as might the fit again Kielen Adams.

Betting odds

Fancying a flutter? Macc are best priced for the win at 31/40 with betway, the draw is 11/4 and Stockton are also 11/4 to emerge victorious. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, you can get odds of 9/4 (also with betway) for Macc to win and both teams to score.

betway are also offering 7/5 for over 3.5 goals (ie 4 or more goals in the game). If you think Macc can emulate Hyde’s 4-1 win over Stockton, QuinnBet and BetGoodwin are offering a best price of 25/1, alternatively 14/1 for 3-1 and 17/2 for 2-1 respectively in Macc’s favour.

Finally, Macc are 8/13 to score first with Stockton 6/4 with betway.