Silkmen set for last-eight clash against Skem
MACCLESFIELD are set to face Skelmersdale United in the quarter finals of the Macron Cup.
Skem pushed the Silkmen harder than any opponent in the race for the North West Counties League Premier Division title, Macc eventually pulling clear in the final weeks of the season to capture the crown.
Skem eventually secured a place in the play-offs and are awaiting news on who they will face.
But they are already pencilled in to take on Macc in the Macron Cup.
Danny Whitaker’s men teed up the tie with a third round victory against Brocton last week.
THE FULL DRAW IS AS FOLLOWS: Cammell Lairds 1907 or Wythenshawe Amateurs v Barnton; Skelmersdale United v Macclesfield; Charnock Richard v Bury AFC or Padiham; Congleton Town v Avro or Bacup Borough
The game will either be played on Saturday 30th April or in the week commencing Monday 2nd May 2022.
A brace from James Berry and strikes from Aaron Dwyer and Tom Clare secured the 4-1 victory against Brocton, though the scoreline did not perhaps reflect the problems the opposition posed the Silkmen.
“We got the win in the end but we made hard work of it at times, especially just after half time when we conceded so early on – that was very disappointing to see but the lads got back on it and had certain periods of control in the second half and went on to get the fourth,” said boss Whitaker.
“We’d bloodied a few youngsters in previous games so we thought we’d give as many first team players a run out because we’d not played for a few weeks, so why not take it seriously? It’s another cup competition with a trophy up for grabs – these are good habits to have, keep winning games of football and winning silverware.
“We got a bit sloppy at times in the first half, I thought we could have done a lot better with ball retention and movement wasn’t timed to how we’d like it - whether that was because we hadn’t trained since the last game, so whether that was down to taht I don’t know. We set standards so high in terms of how we play in and out of possession and the different patterns we work on in our build-up play, building up through the thirds. From that perspective it was a little bit disappointing to see and I spoke about that at half time. It needed to be better and just keeping it simple really, the basics of football - keep the ball moving, don’t get bored of moving it quickly and keeping it simple.”
Having score three in the first half, Whitaker had hoped his side might see the game out easily – but it didn’t quite turn out that way.
“We said it on numerous occasions during the league campaign, when we’ve gone a couple of goals up keep the pressure on your opponent, keep doing the basics well, keep moving them about and space will open up and you will score a few more goals. We just tend to either think the game’s won and it’s done and dusted, or we will score another couple - but teams will keep going, they are not going to give up that easily,” he said.
“We have to keep putting them under pressure, keep putting balls into the box, keep making them have to defend and before you know it you’ll have three or four and then it will be game over.
“Brocton pressed us and like I said to the lads, you have to problem-solve on the pitch. You have to recognise they are prressing well, going man to man so maybe miss the press out, go a bit longer into Tom (Clare), work off Tom and then force them into thinking ‘ what are they going to do?’ That might see them sit off you again and then you can play short and work off patterns again, work up through the thirds. From my point of view, the players have got to recognise that.
“We’re always going to create chances with our attacking players, as long as they bring their A-game and be the best they can be going forward we will create chances, it’s just a case of taking them .
“I think we can be a lot better in certain aspects - ball retention, for instance, don’t give the ball away, don’t be sloppy! Me, as a player, I never wanted to give the ball away, especially in my own half. As soon as you build up through the thirds and get into the final thirds, then you are free to go and do your magic, attacking the defenders, looking for one-twos around the box, being clever - I don’t mind giving the ball away there, but it’s in the build-up phase when we start forcing it and just don’t keep it. So I’ve asked them to really think about the game, don’t be the one who gives it away.”