MATCH PREVIEW: Borough Park next stop for wounded Macc

Even before their surprise defeat at Mickleover on Tuesday, Reds were expecting a very tough game against the Premier Division leaders at Borough Park on Saturday (3pm).

So, a wounded Macclesfield, who will be keen to return to winning ways at our expense, will present even more of a challenge in our biggest game of the season.

Robbie Savage’s side have been in outstanding form this term and a class above the rest of the division to date.  They seem to have kicked on a few notches after what, for them, was a disappointing ’23-24 campaign.

After winning successive titles in the North West Counties and NPL (West Division), Macclesfield finished runners-up to Radcliffe last season, only to then fail in their first taste of play-off football.

But they seem hellbent on putting that disappointment behind them and attaining National North status by the end of April.  They are currently thirteen points clear at the top and have been scoring freely since August.

We held them to a goalless draw here nearly twelve months ago but no team has prevented them from scoring so far this season and their attacking options have produced scores of five (several times), six and seven (against Ashton United no less) with a total of 43 league goals netted so far.

That 0-0 draw here last year was our best result against the re-formed Macclesfield with the other three meetings all resulting in defeat. 

The Borough Park injury crisis, which numbered 13 players and one director recently, is now down to seven so still some way to go before Mark Fell can rely on a full complement, but the return of Ceiran Casson was a step in the right direction and Lucas Wane should be available after all.

The pitch suffered from frost for two nights but will certainly be playable after temperatures crept up again during Thursday and Friday.

After announcing the lowest crowd (451) of the season on Tuesday, the club will be hoping for at least double that on Saturday.