Browse Sections

• Macclesfield Town FC
• Local football
• Local cricket
• Golf

So far so good

Mike Glendinning
9/ 4/2008

AS MACCLESFIELD’S future looks increasingly assured, manager Keith Alexander refuses to rest until his team are past the finishing post.

After steering Macc to almost mid-table in little more than five weeks at the Moss Rose, Alexander’s stock is rising with every passing week.

Saturday’s draw at Wrexham lifted the Silkmen to 18th in League Two and victory this weekend over Mansfield Town would put Macc on 48 points, 10 ahead of the second-bottom Stags.

"We need a few more points to be safe," admitted Alexander.

"Our home form is important, and they are hard games mentally and physically, but it’s so far so good.

"I was pleased with the point, because I’d have taken an away point before the game, but I’m disappointed not to have scored more against Wrexham. We battled hard, something we’ve had to work on doing, and we’re not conceding as many goals. We want to go unbeaten through the rest of the season, and then it doesn’t matter what happens elsewhere."

Central to the upsurge in fortunes, and Alexander’s record of 14 points from eight games, is a now-solid defence that has conceded only five goals during that run.

Captaining the side, Sean Hessey has been in inspired form alongside fellow loan signings Richard Walker, Ryan Cresswell and Neil Ashton and academy star Shaun Brisley.

"Sean has had a good run," said Alexander. "We should have 11 captains out there, he’s actually the third player I’ve had as captain, but it’s good for the younger lads to have experienced campaigners like him and Richard Walker alongside them.

"Shaun has been excellent for me too, he’s played well all over the defence and he’s scored a couple of goals as well.

"I keep saying to the players that, if they keep producing performances, then the team will pick itself."

The Macc boss, who is fast becoming a terrace hero, was quick to praise the fans who made the journey to North Wales and is asking for more of the same this Saturday.

"The supporters had a good day, they were magnificent and, at times, they had some good football to enjoy."

Alexander will go into the weekend’s battle without Martin Gritton, who suffered a back problem late last week that ruled him out of contention for a place against Wrexham.

"I’m disappointed not to have him available because he’s a good player, he’s just having one of those seasons.

"But I’m not going to worry about that now, I’ve got enough to worry about with the ones that can play."