MKJ Group

Cards look to build on first win

Brian Caffarey
6:51am, Thu 1st Sep 2016
Macclesfield Town v Woking
Vanarama National League
3pm on Saturday 3 September 2016

Having got the ‘monkey off their backs’ with their first win of the campaign, against Chester on Monday, Garry Hill’s side will be keen to build on their fine performance on this trip to Macclesfield on National Non-League Day. But it is a tall order since the Silkmen have started the season fairly strongly and this is a fixture which has rarely brought any joy for the Cards.

WOKING

A fine all-round performance on Monday saw the Cards defeat FC Chester 3-1 at an appreciative Laithwaite Community Stadium, with goals from Keiran Murtagh (who wil be well known to Silkmen fans from his time there), Joey Jones and Gozie Ugwu. The returning Ismail Yakubu undoubtedly brought more confidence to the side, seeming to bring the best out of his co-defenders. But a pleasing aspect of the performance was that it was very much a team effort, with telling contributions all over the pitch.

Garry Hill will be well aware, though, that one win isn’t enough to make up for a poor start to the season and that his side will need to maintain, and indeed improve upon, Monday’s performance if they are to pull themselves away from the bottom four places.

MACCLESFIELD TOWN

The Silkmen have made an encouraging start to the season, with four wins and three defeats from their opening seven games:

Torquay United 0 Macclesfield Town 2
York City 1 Macclesfield Town 0
Braintree Town 1 Macclesfield Town 3
Macclesfield Town 3 Southport 1
Sutton United 2 Macclesfield Town 0
Macclesfield Town 1 Lincoln City 2
Solihull Moors 2 Macclesfield Town 3

Their last-ditch winner at Solihull on Monday came after they had trailed Solihull twice. Kingsley James converted two penalties before Ollie Norburn grabbed the winner in injury time. The Silkmen now sit 8th in the table and have made clear that their target this season is a top five finish.

Manager John Askey has kept a strong nucleus of players from last season, including midfielders Danny Whitaker, Danny Rowe and Paul Lewis, defenders Andy Halls and George Pilkington and strikers Chris Holroyd and Jack Sampson. (Departures included top scorer Kristian Dennis and ex-Card Shwan Jalal.) New signings include winger Jack Mackreth, returning to Moss Rose after spells at Grimsby Town and on loan to Tranmere Rovers; combative midfielder Kingsley James, who was with FC Halifax last season and who has previously turned out for Hereford and FC Chester; midfielder Ollie Norburn from Guiseley; left-back Mitch Hancox from Birmingham City, who was on loan to Crawley Town for part of last season; and keeper Craig Ross, a former England C international, who was at Whitehawk last season but who has also played for Hampton and Richmond Borough, Cambridge United and Eastbourne Borough.

Andy Halls, captain, will miss this match after being sent off at Sutton United. There are also doubts about the fitness of Kingsley James and John McCombe, both of whom were substituted at Sutton.

The Silkmen are traditionally strong at The Moss Rose and will have been disappointed to have lost to Lincoln City.

GETTING THERE

The Moss Rose Stadium
London Road
Macclesfield
Cheshire
SK11 7SP

Official website: www.mtfc.co.uk

By coach
The Cards Trust has announced that it will only run a coach to this game if there are enough ‘takers’. Ring or email the Club Shop to check the position if you are thinking of going (01483 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. There is plenty of street parking near the ground.

By train
Direct trains leave Euston on the hour and take I hour 41 minutes e.g. the 12 noon train gets into Macclesfield at 13.41. Other, slightly slower, trains leave at 20 minutes past the hour and involve a change at Stoke-on-Trent e.g. the 11.20 from Euston arrives would get you to Macclesfield at 13.11. Direct trains back are at 56 minutes past the hour e.g. the 17.56 arrives at Euston at 19.43. Trains via Stoke leave at 26 or 27 minutes past the hour e.g. the 17.27 should get you to Euston at 19.25. The ground is about a 25-minute walk from the station. Leave the station and turn left up Sunderland Street until you reach a major crossroads at the war memorial. Turn left here and follow the road for about a mile.e eave the station and turn left up Sunderland St until you reach a major crossroads at the war memorial. Take the left here and follow for roughly a mile.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults: £15 / £19
Concessions (Over 65): £10 / £15
Under 18s / Students: £5
Under 12s (accompanied by adult): £3

The prices quoted are for standing/seated tickets purchased on the day. Cheaper tickets can be purchased in advance (e.g. by phoning 01625 264686 or by visiting www.mtfcdirect.co.uk)

Away fans are accommodated in the John Askey Stand.

COMING UP

The Cards travel to Gisele the following Saturday (10 September). The Cards Trust will only run a coach if there are enough ‘takers’, so ring or email the Club Shop (shop@wokingfc.co.uk) if you’d like to go. The Cards’ next home game is on Tuesday 13 October when Torquay United are the visitors, followed by a visit from Wrexham on Saturday 17 October. Make sure both dates are in your diary!


Come on, you Cards!

P.S. Don’t forget the fans’ forum at 8pm this coming Monday (5 September) in the Legends Bar. If you have concerns you wish to raise, or ideas you want to put forward to help the Club, this is a great opportunity to have your say.

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