Halifax can’t expect easy ride: Askey

MACCLESFIELD Town manager John Askey insists they won’t be taking their foot off the gas on Saturday when they travel to Halifax Town in their final match of the season.

It’s been a mixed campaign for the Silkmen, as the team were pushing for the National League play-offs until a poor run of form at the start of 2016 saw them drop down the table.

They are currently in 10th place, while Halifax will be desperate for a win to ensure that they avoid relegation as they are just one point clear of the drop zone at the moment.

With that in mind, Askey is keen to stress that they’ll be doing all they can to take the three points from the Shay and won’t be doing Halifax any favours.

“We will be going there and giving it our best as we have to be fair to every other club in the league,” he said.

“We want to finish with a win and whether that sends Halifax down or they stay up, that’s their problem, not ours.

“The season is nearly over and hopefully the supporters have enjoyed the majority of it and will be back next season.

“If you haven’t got supporters then you haven’t got a football club, they’re the most important thing.”

Someone else that Askey hopes will be back next season is leading scorer Kristian Dennis.

The 26-year-old striker has scored 22 goals during the campaign, but Askey isn’t sure yet whether he’ll be back at the Moss Rose after the summer.

“The chances of Kristian returning next season depends on who comes in for him,” he said. “It’s about whether there are any takers in league football as well, but if not then hopefully he’ll stay with us.”

Macclesfield’s last match saw them suffer a 1-0 defeat to league champions Cheltenham Town, and Askey admits it was a tough ask for his side.

“We went into the game hoping that we could go to the end of the season without losing but we came across a top team and I think they showed why they’re top of the league,” he said.

“They were very disciplined, fit and strong and always look a danger at set-pieces. Having said that, I thought that for the majority of the game we matched them.

“When we’re all full strength we’re a different animal but when we have a few out it costs us. Paul Lewis, Danny Whitehead and George Pilkington were all out of the team and when you’ve got a small squad it’s going to affect you.

“Whoever plays always gives us 100 per cent but we didn’t have enough quality in the final third against Cheltenham.”