After an almost-perfect night in midweek, Macclesfield Town manager John Askey is out for more of the same as they head south for Welling United.

His men showed their mettle to get the better of Chester and the sixth-placed Silkmen will be out for maximum points at Park View Road.

Their hosts slipped into the bottom four with defeat to Dartford on Tuesday, their fourth straight loss in all competitions.

But Askey won't be standing for any complacency this weekend. Particularly as he's expecting another tough assignment, despite the Wings' lowly position. And regular midfielders Paul Turnbull (suspended) and Paul Lewis (broken collarbone) will be missing from the ranks.

“I know about Welling, they're a decent footballing team and it'll be difficult going there with that sloping pitch,” he said. “We came unstuck there last season. It's not a good place for opposing teams to go to, and they've got horrible changing rooms!

 

“But we've only lost three league games this season, we've put some performances in and I think we could have won more than we have done.

“We've been consistent, I can't knock the players for their effort – we've only lost with disappointing performances but overall they've been really good. They always give it everything and we've got to keep doing that as we go into the next game. We're equal with the fifth-place team on points so it's obviously very pleasing and everybody at the club's really happy.

I think we just have to keep going, not get carried away, and keep working hard.”

Macc benefited from a game-free weekend for the first round of the FA Cup ahead of that Chester win. And after injecting the spark back into their battle-weary legs Askey is delighted that they're rediscovering their goal-den touch.

Penalty incident aside, debut defender Liam Hogan impressed alongside the unflappable George Pilkington against Chester and Rhys Taylor turned in a fine night's work behind them. And while Macc's mean defence continues the good work strike pair Matthew Barnes-Homer and Waide Fairhurst shared three goals, the latter throwing his hat in the already-crowded goal-of-the-season ring with a long-range belter.

Matthew Barnes-Homer
 

“I thought Liam Hogan did well, it's difficult because Luke (Waterfall) did so well when he was with us but I can't remember him making too many mistakes apart from giving the penalty away,” added the boss. “He'll be disappointed with that but it's difficult when you've just come in.

“At times we didn't have the same cohesion at the back but it takes time to develop a partnership, but what we did see from Liam was his recovery, he's very quick and strong and he gives us something a bit different to Luke.

“As soon as that ball left Waide's foot it was a screamer and it never diverted, it was always going in the top corner, a fantastic goal that I don't think any keeper would have stopped. It was an unbelievable goal, good enough to win any game.

“Barnesy needed that goal, he's been getting chances but they haven't been going in. He's deserved that goal for his work rate and his hold-up play, which was really good, I'm pleased for him and it should boost his confidence to push on.”

About the only downside for Askey at the moment is that he can only have 11 players on the pitch at any one time. And with no reserve team some members of the squad are going for long periods without any match-time.

Young midfielder Will Bailey, who was unavailable at the start of the campaign after a pre-season knee injury, has now joined Kidsgrove Athletic to get some games under his belt.

“Will's dual-registered so he can play for both teams,” explained the manager. “He needs games and some experience so it could be an ideal move for him. I'd like to see him follow Paul Lewis but he needs to be playing.

“That's the problem with the youth team not existing anymore, it's such a shame for these young lads, it's not good for their development but unfortunately that's the situation.”