Gibbo's 92.: Macclesfield Town FC

- Ground Number 22 -

- 01/02/2011 -

- Macclesfield Town FC 2-4 Bury FC -

My trip to Macclesfield was a rather unplanned one. I had originally planned on staying at home and watching Leigh Genesis v Chester FC at Crilly Park, Atherton. The Chester match was possibly the biggest sporting event for my hometown since 1992 when Aldershot Town came to Crilly Park.

I rang up my mate Danny asking him if he was coming to the Chester match when he told me he was off to Macclesfield to watch his beloved Bury. He put me in a massive dilemma; Did I want to watch Chester at my local club? Or did I want to tick another ground off my list?

As it was, I chose to spend the evening at Moss Rose with the Pilling family.

The drive down to Moss Rose was a comfortable one, and it wasn't long before we arrived in Macclesfield. After parking the car we walked down to the ground. Along the way we stopped at a lovely little outlet of the Co-Operative. Now, I use the term lovely in the lightest of terms. Whilst Danny was in the shop purchasing his Cherry Cokes, Gary and I were subjected to abuse off some local chavs. WELCOME TO MACCLESFIELD!

Carrying on up the road the ground suddenly appeared. Right out of the middle of nowhere. It appeared to have been built in the middle of a main road. It was at this point I asked Danny which stand the away end was... He pointed at what appeared to be a brick wall.

See, this is the problem with not researching a ground before you visit. You don't know what to expect! Had I have known that I'd be on an open terrace on a cold, wet, February evening I'd have stayed in Atherton watching the mighty Leigh! It would have been exactly the same conditions, but at least I'd have only been a minute walk from my shower!

After having my usual photo outside, we went straight into the ground. Well, I say we went straight into the ground... I fell over a raised kerb along the way. I somehow survived and made it to the turnstile. There was already quite a big queue at the turnstiles and it took us a couple of minutes to get in.

The away fans had been given the Silkmen Terrace which holds 1,530 fans. Bury had brought about 800 fans, which meant it wasn't too cramped and uncomfortable.

Through the turnstiles I went. What greeted me was a totally new experience... It was a far cry from the luxuries of The Reebok.

There were a couple of burger vans to the left, and a big blue, wooden/brick structure which towered in front of you. This was the rear of the terracing. The route up to the terracing isn't for people with a nervous disposition, with two sets of metal steps being the only way up. I might being a bit dramatic, but still!

My next mission was to find a programme seller, who I was informed would be stood next to the goal. Sure enough, he was and I bought a programme for £2.50, and to be honest, if I was forced to pay £3 I would have hit the non-existent roof.

Having purchased a very poor programme, we had to decide where to stand in the terrace of endless possibilities. After choosing to perch ourselves just behind the net, I hung up my bag and prepared myself for 90 minutes of proper football.

Me and Danny sat down on the terracing

To my right was the McAlpine Stand, the newest stand at Moss Rose. Holding 1,550 it is the only fully seated stand at the Moss Rose. Macclesfield offer around 400 seats in this stand for away fans who prefer the seated option.

To the left is the iconic London Road. This side of the ground has a stand and terracing, which gives it the non-league feel. There is space for exactly 1,371 standing spectators, whilst there are 563 seats in the stand. London Road also houses the players changing rooms and dugouts.

Opposite the away end was the Star Lane end. This is where the vocal Macclesfield supporters congregate. Behind a few rows of seating there is terracing, which makes it rather unusual. Altogether the Star Lane holds 1,321 home fans. Unlike the away, the club have supplied a roof on the Star.

Bury had gone into the match in impressive form, and found themselves just outside the automatic promotion places. Macclesfield on the other hand were hovering just above the relegation zone.

However, it was the silkmen that started off the match the better of the two teams with Ross Draper causing problems for the shakers defence. As expected, Bury soon grew into the match and it wasn't long before they opened the scoring.

Michael Jones picked the ball up on the edge of the area and curled the ball into the bottom right hand corner to beat Jose Veiga in the Macclesfield net. The rain began to pour but it wouldn't dampen the Bury fans spirits.

It was again Ross Draper causing problems for Bury, and after beating the nervy Shakers defence it was down to goalkeeper Cameron Belford to prevent him from equalising for the home side.

Yet again, as Macclesfield began to pile on the pressure they were made to pay. On 34 minutes Bury doubled their lead when Ryan Lowe dispossessed Nat Brown on the edge of his own area. Lowe then threaded Nicky Ajose - on loan from Manchester United - through on the left, before setting up Lowe for his first of the match.

Moments later Lowe returned the favour for Ajose when he knocked a ball over the Macclesfield defence. Ajose's pace proved too much as he rounded the keeper and passed the ball into an empty net. 0-3 after 36 minutes, not much more could happen in this half could it?

Well, I was wrong. Macclesfield claimed a goal back just a minute later when Ross Draper dispossessed Michael Jones in his own half. Draper then ran past five Bury players before finishing expertly past Belford in the Bury net. It was a fantastic goal, and one that Ross Draper fully deserved. 37 minutes... 1-3.

39 minutes, and Macclesfield pulled another goal back! A goalkeeping error from Cameron Belford allowed Tyrone Barnett to head the ball into an empty net. Bury had thrown away a 3-0 lead in a matter of minutes.

The first half unfortunately came to an end. It had been a fantastic first 45 minutes of football, and we were left praying for more of the same in the second half.

The second half started at a blistering pace, and it was Bury who nearly scored when Nicky Ajose's shot was cleared for a corner by Jose Veiga. By this time Daniel and I had created a new name for the Macclesfield keeper 'Jose Viagra'. Why Jose Viagra you may be asking? Well, simple really. It was more a less his last name, and all he did was get it up (The ball that is!).

It was again Ross Draper who created a chance for Macclesfield on 66 minutes, but he was unable to double his goals tally for the evening.

Macclesfield continued to press and should have equalised on 73 minutes when Ricky Sappleton made the most of a poor defensive header from Phil Picken. Sappleton fired towards and empty net but Damien Mozika somehow sprinted back to keep Bury in the lead.

Bury sealed a crucial win on 86 minutes when substitute Andy Bishop set Ryan Lowe up for his second of the evening to send the drenched Bury fans home celebrating.

It had been a very good match, with both teams giving 100%.

I really liked Macclesfields ground. Yes, it is lacking in modern facilities, but what it lacks there, it certainly makes up for in history and tradition. I hope to visit Moss Rose again sometime in the future... However I hope I will be in a stand with a roof!