Macclesfield Express

Far from ideal build up to big tie

- SHELDAN KEAY

MACCLESIFE­LD Town midfielder Danny Whitaker admits it was a frustratin­g week for the club building up to their FA Cup second round clash with Oxford United following two abandoned games.

The Silkmen saw last Saturday’s game against Dover controvers­ially called off due to fog, while last Tuesday’s planned match with Barrow was postponed.

Macc went on to draw 0-0 with Oxford in their FA Cup clash, and Whitaker believes the lack of game time in the build-up affected things.

“It was very frustratin­g. Last Saturday was a bit farcical, so to turn up last Tuesday and get ourselves ready and then it’s off, it wasn’t great preparatio­n,” he told the club’s official website.

“That’s how it goes in football sometimes. We played very well last Saturday too, but the fog came down and the referee has made his decision.

“We’d got over that and then trained well looking forward to the Barrow game, and then that was off due to a frozen pitch.”

In a statement regarding last Tuesday’s postponeme­nt with Barrow, Macclesfie­ld said: “Despite an overnight frost on Monday night, the temperatur­e during the day on Tuesday was sufficient to ensure that the pitch thawed and was playable.

“No issues were expected ahead of kick off.

“However, quickly falling temperatur­es later in the afternoon had an adverse effect on some sections of the pitch, and with the temperatur­e continuing to fall, the decision was taken to postpone the game.

“An announceme­nt regarding the rearranged game will be made shortly.”

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 ?? Peter Hilton Photograph­y ?? Danny Whitaker in action for Macclesfie­ld in their FA Cup second round
Peter Hilton Photograph­y Danny Whitaker in action for Macclesfie­ld in their FA Cup second round

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