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3:00pm - SaturdaySat 21st SeptemberSep 2013
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Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town
3 - 2

Woking
Woking

Cards look for Cheshire hat-trick

Brian Caffarey
9:51am, Fri 20th Sep 2013
Macclesfield Town v Woking
3pm on Saturday 21 September 2013

After 2-0 away wins at Chester last month and, on Tuesday night, at Hyde, can the Cards make it a Cheshire hat-trick when they visit Macclesfield tomorrow? It will be tough again but Garry Hill’s side will have gained confidence from another victory and their opponents are still without a win.

WOKING

The Cards had to work very hard to gain their win at Hyde, surviving a lot of home pressure, especially in the first half, but that resilience is precisely what Garry Hill will have been looking for after too many defensive lapses.

Sam Beasant replaced Aaron Howe at Hyde, whilst John Goddard, a trialist from Reading in the summer, was also on the team sheet. As the game unfolded, Garry took the brave decision to replace Lee Sawyer – one of the more consistent performers this season – with winger Anthony McNamee, who proved to be an influential figure on the right flank.

With a long run of games coming up against sides who’ve mostly been going well this season, Garry will be keen to get three points from this game if at all possible. But, rather like Woking recently, the Silkmen have been producing improving performances without getting results, so the Cards can’t afford to be complacent.

MACCLESFIELD TOWN

Macclesfield’s financial problems have meant that most of their ‘big name’ players have left the club, although they have still got some talented players on their books, including midfielder John Paul Kissock, formerly with Luton, ex-Stevenage winger Peter Winn, keeper Rhys Taylor, who started his career at Chelsea, and the pacy Jack Mackreth. Striker Connor Jennings is on loan from Scunthorpe United, having had a loan spell at Stockport County last season. Perhaps the best known player in the squad is Efe Sodje, now 40, but still pulling on his boots in his second spell at the Moss Rose.

Macclesfield have drawn one and lost three of their four home games so far and currently sit one place above Hyde at the wrong end of the table. The 2-2 draw came against FC Halifax Town, whilst the games against Nuneaton, Braintree and Alfreton all ended in 1-0 defeats. The Silkmen lost 2-1 at Chester on Tuesday night but, by all accounts, played well in the second half as they nearly came back from a two-goal half-time deficit.

GETTING THERE

Moss Rose Stadium
London Road
Macclesfield
Cheshire
SK11 7SP

By coach
The Cards Trust coach leaves Kingfield at 9.30am. The cost is £23 for members and £30 for non-members. Ring or email the Club Shop to book your place (01843 772470 or shop@wokingfc.co.uk).

By car
Exit the M6 at junction 17 (Sandbach) and follow the A534 to Congleton. From here take the A536 to Macclesfield (Macclesfield is signposted from the motorway). After passing the 'Millers' pub on the left continue for about 1/4 of a mile and take the first right after the speed-camera onto Moss Lane. Follow Moss Lane until you reach the ground.

By train
Direct trains leave Euston on the hour e.g. the 12 noon train gets into Macclesfield at 13.41. Other trains leave at 20 minutes past the hour and involve a change at Stoke-on-Trent e.g. the 11.20 from Euston arrives at Stoke at 12.48, with a train from Stoke to Macclesfield leaving at 12.55 and arriving at 13.11. Direct trains back are at 56 minutes past the hour e.g. the 17.56 arrives at Euston at 19.42. Trains via Stoke leave at 26 or 27 minutes past the hour e.g. the 17.27 should get you to Euston at 19.23. The ground is about a 25-minute walk from the station.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults: £14 / £18
Concessions (Over 60s): £10 / £14
Under 18s / Students: £5
Under 12s: £3

LAST TIME OUT

In March this year the Cards had to show great determination to keep out a lively Macc attack, with central defenders Brett Johnson and Joe McNerney gaining much praise, as Garry Hill’s side battled to a 0-0 draw. Seb Brown, at fault only a few days before for Cambridge’s injury-time winner, denied ex-Card Keiran Murtagh in the Silkmen’s final throw of the dice.

The home fixture, played a month later, was an extraordinary affair, with the Cards racing into a 5-0 lead by half-time, only to be clinging on at the end to secure a 5-4 win. The Cards were two up in ten minutes as Billy Knott turned the ball in after Jayden Stockley’s header came back off the crossbar and then Kevin Betsy curled a delightful effort past the away keeper. Stockley made it three from the penalty spot after Knott had been brought down after stealing the ball from a dawdling defender. A superb through ball from Betsy saw Stockley make it 4-0 with a clever chip over the keeper and then Stockley laid a pass into Knott’s path for the midfielder to drill home. Managerless Macclesfield, without a win in four games, could have been forgiven for giving up hope but they came back in the second half to score through Waide Fairhurst, Guy Madjo, Fairhurst again and then Arthur Gnouhoua, with Woking hanging on for grim death at the finish.

NEXT GAME

The next home game is a very attractive encounter with Luton Town on Tuesday 24 September, swiftly followed by another home game the following Saturday (28 September) against high-flying Nuneaton Town. Make sure you’ve got these games firmly in your diary!


Come on, you Cards!


Late Cards comeback only serves to deceive

Malcolm Wyatt
9:41am, Sun 22nd Sep 2013

Macclesfield Town 3 Woking 2
Skrill Premier
21st September 2013

A lacklustre Woking outfit came close to what would have been an undeserved point at the Moss Rose on Saturday, two late goals at fellow strugglers Macclesfield having put the gloss on a poor performance.

While two-goal Connor Jennings and fellow strike threat Chris Holroyd ran the show for the hosts, the visitors showed very little creativity, while again making mistakes at key stages.

The Cards started brightly enough, John Goddard, on his first start for the Cards, and Scott Rendell not far off from respective early John Nutter and Josh Payne deliveries.

A mazy run followed from Kevin Betsy, buoyed by his late double in the midweek win at Hyde, but Rendell stepped over at a prime moment rather than firing home.

The visitors were soon made to pay, Holroyd offered a great opportunity on the edge of the area after a poor Woking back-pass. And while Sam Beasant blocked his shot, Jennings was on hand to his right for a 12th-minute opener as the Cards defence looked to plug gaps.

Goddard came close to levelling two minutes later but volleyed over after a promising raid, having first released Anthony McNamee, another starter after his Hyde heroics.

But the half soon belonged to Holroyd and Jennings, time and again in on goal as Macc effectively countered, showing the kind of desire the visitors seemed to be lacking.

On occasions the flag would be raised for offside or the finish would be weak or off-target, as you might expect from a side without a win to their name beforehand.

But it was clear that Beasant was up against it, his defence repeatedly undone after Woking attacks broke down.

Jack Parkinson and Mark Ricketts stood their ground at key times, but the hosts looked far more likely to score as the action switched between ends, a McNamee cross too strong for Betsy, while a Payne free-kick was no problem for home keeper Rhys Taylor.

Betsy, Rendell and Goddard occasionally threatened, but too many times the final touch was poor or no one could get on the end of a promising delivery.

Just before the break, Garry Hill sacrificed defender Adam Newton for Lee Sawyer, at around the same point he himself had made way for McNamee on Tuesday night.

But the Silkmen carried on regardless, Beasant having to clear another dangerous Jennings delivery, while on the break Rendell struggled to get near a Nutter centre.

Then came a killer blow from the hosts, a great cross from Peter Winn finding Jennings unmarked beyond the last Cards defender, heading majestically home to double the lead in the second added minute of the half.

While Macclesfield looked effortlessly impressive and quick on the break, Woking were largely uninventive and somewhat laboured, as dozy sometimes as the wasps circling the main stand.

Half-time: Macclesfield Town 2 Woking 0

It was more of the same just after the break, another raised flag thankfully denying Holroyd before Woking briefly improved.

Betsy and Payne combined to play in McNamee, who unleashed a mighty dipping left-foot volley which smacked the crossbar. Sawyer then went on a mazy run that played in Rendell, but the Silkmen again stood their ground.

Mike Cestor started making an impact, linking with Betsy before another off-kilter Payne finish, the visitors continuing to huff and puff on the edge of the home area to no great effect.

Hill replaced Nutter with Giuseppe Sole with half an hour to go, but still the Silkmen sallied forth, Jennings denied a hat-trick from a fine volley by the right post.

Woking appealed for handball in the area from a McNamee corner, while at the other end Beasant kept out Jennings’ next volley, with Whitaker’s follow-up well over.

Joe McNerney replaced Ricketts, but Macc’s Winn was next to find the net, the linesman’s flag indicating offside, though.

Parkinson denied Holroyd as he again waltzed through, while Sole began to threaten but was offside from a Betsy delivery - the same fate afforded Holroyd moments later.

Woking were left stretched as they pushed up and lost possession, home captain Paul Turnball going close before home shouts for a penalty after Holroyd went down in the box, the ref unmoved and issuing a caution.

Beasant was quick off his line to deny Holroyd’s next chance, but it was only a matter of time before the next home goal, Jack Mackreth finishing a swift move after good work by Jennings, making it 3-0 with 12 minutes remaining.

That finally woke up the visitors and two minutes later Betsy forayed down the left again, playing in Sole, who showed great composure as he struck home left-footed from the edge of the box.

A foul on the Woking sub soon after set hearts racing as Sole teed up a long-range free-kick. But it wasn’t his best, ending up where most of the previous volleys had.

The Cards remained on the offensive, Goddard and McNamee brighter on the right, and Sole and Sawyer marginally more creative inside.

But the pressure soon faded, four added minutes ticking away before a second Cards goal, a McNerney volley from a Goddard left-wing corner deflected in by a home defender, although the PA announcer credited the goal to Betsy.

Macclesfield were looking edgy by then, terrified of letting their first win slip away as Cestor threatened an undeserved equaliser at the death. But the defender’s shot too was well over, summing up his side’s poor finishing.

Woking: Sam Beasant, Adam Newton (Lee Sawyer 43), John Nutter (Giuseppe Sole 59), Mark Ricketts © (Joe McNerney 67), Kevin Betsy, Anthony McNamee, Mike Cestor, Jack Parkinson, Josh Payne, Scott Rendell, John Goddard.

Subs not used: Aaron Howe, Gavin Williams.

Cautions: Lee Sawyer

Macclesfield Town: Rhys Taylor, Joe Connor, Danny Andrew, Carl Martin, Paul Turnbull ©, Jack Mackreth, Connor Jennings, Chris Holroyd (Lewis Chalmers 86), Peter Winn, Danny Whitaker, Andy Halls.

Subs not used: John Paul Kissock, Scott Boden, Daniel Rowe, Dan Cowan.

Cautions: Andy Halls, Danny Whitaker, Chris Holroyd

Attendance: 1,195

MOTM: Sam Beasant – it was tricky to pick anyone out for the visitors, but Beasant deserved better for his efforts on the day.
Macclesfield Town LINEUP
1Rhys Taylor
2Joe Connor
3Danny Andrew
4Carl Martin
6Paul Turnbull
7Jack Mackreth
8Connor Jennings
9Chris Holroyd ('87)
11Peter Winn
23Danny Whitaker
26Andy Halls
BENCH
10John Paul Kissock
19Scott Boden
24Daniel Rowe
27Lewis Chalmers ('87)
28Dan Cowan
WOKING LINEUP
18Sam Beasant
2Adam Newton ('42)
3John Nutter ('60)
8Jack Parkinson
15Mike Cestor
4Mark Ricketts ('68)
20Josh Payne
22John Goddard
14Anthony McNamee
11Kevin Betsy
21Scott Rendell
BENCH
1Aaron Howe
5Joe McNerney ('68)
7Lee Sawyer ('42)
9Gavin Williams
10Giuseppe Sole ('60)

Interview with Jack Parkinson

David Holmes
9:46pm, Sat 21st Sep 2013

Jack Parkinson:







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