Macc rise to tough FA Cup challenge
MACCLESFIELD made it four wins from their opening four games of the season after beatng Mossley in the extra preliminary round of the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday.
The Silkmen returned from Seel Park having progressed in the competition with a 4-2 victory.
Whitaker was delighted with the manner in which his players acquitted themselves, coping admirably with some trying conditions.
“It was certainly a battle out there and full credit to the boys – we told them before the game how it would play out, that it wouldn’t be pretty at times especially in the first half,” he said. “The pitch is a bit lively and there’s a bit of a slope. Mossley play to the pitch conditions very well, they are very direct and physical in certain aspects of their game.
“We told the lads to stand up and be counted, win the second balls – that was so, so important – and don’t overplay in our own half.”
The Macc chief changed his playing system, employing three centre halves at Mossley.
“It was mainly due to the flexibility in our squad,” he explained. “We have such a good squad and we’ve said to them from day one that everyone will be used and everyone will be needed.
“It gives us the balance to be able to switch to a back three and make us more compact and solid.
“I knew from watching videos of previous Mossley games that they were going to be direct. It wasn’t a pitch to be playing pretty football on early doors especially, sit was quite windy as well, so it was about battling th conditions, battling with Mossley and winning duels. When it did open up or players got into the final third it was about looking to play and get balls into the box.”
Andy Keogh had fired the home side ahead before Macc slipped into top gear.
“It was an avoidable goal, of course it was – the majority of goals are avoidable in some way or other,” said Whitaker. “There wasn’t the right kind of pressure on the ball, it came in too easy and then we weren’t compact enough in the box, we were too open – Zeki (Fryers) has mis-timed his jump and their lad has taken it down well and finished it quite well.
“But the lads showed great character to come back into the game and stick at it and they got their reward with a fantastic goal from James Berry and from then onwards we didn’t look back.
“I can’t praise them enough because this is a place where teams will be looking at us and thinking ‘right, they can play this type of football on their own patch, but what are they like against teams who are physical, in your face and the conditions aren’t very good to play football in.’
“The lads stood up and were counted and it just goes to show what a group of players we have in that dressing room.”
Nicky Maynard was also among the goalscorers, making it four from his three games for the club so far.
“It’s a great return,” said Whitaker. “He comes with a great pedigree, he’s played at such a high level and we know his capabilities in the final third. He is very lively, he makes some fantastic runs and his link up play is good and he can finish. It’s about getting him the service - if you don’t get him the service then he’s not going to score.”
Four wins out of four so far represents an ideal start to the season for Whitaker, who added: “Every game is different and poses different problems and the players are stepping up and meeting those challenges head on, passing the test with flying colours. Coming to a place like Mossley is not easy with a team like ours who like to play football, like to play a certain style. You can’t - I said to them before the game they might have to sacrifice their game to a certain degree and everyone of them took that on board.” ●●AS a result of Kidsgrove Athletic’s Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round tie needing a replay, Tuesday’s Northern Premier League West Division fixture has been postponed.