Mac Attack
Anstey Nomads 0-3 Macclesfield (FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round Replay)
I keep saying I’m not coming back, but here I am. Returning sooner than expected due to these two teams drawing at the weekend.
I was supposed to be at Quorn v Bury and was looking very much forward to it, but Bury drew their FA Cup game on Saturday with Harrogate and they are also replaying tonight, the closest alternative after re-arrangements to fixtures is little more than 6 miles south of my original destination in Leicestershire, to be fair I’ll be getting paid a bit more and I have some long travelling to do this week, so I’ll grin and bear the standing by the perimeter and hope it’s not too busy.
A feisty encounter at the weekend, Anstey took the lead after Macclesfield missed a penalty, Corey Grantham stabbing home from close range after Christian Dibble spilled a shot. Danny Elliott responding with a cracking header late on, he had an earlier penalty saved by Harley Price.
The game ended with Anstey down to ten men, they even had their Manager sent off and the last few minutes ended with some scuffling and shenanigans which could make tonight very interesting indeed. The winner will get to take on Mansfield Town at Field Mill in round one.
Both these sides have recent cup pedigree of course, Macclesfield beating holders Crystal Palace in the third-round last season, Anstey equalling their best run in the competition this year, they were beaten by Chesterfield in the fourth qualifying round in 2022/23.
It’s been raining, the fine stuff that gets you wet, I’m in the car for 6pm down the A46 as it’s only an half hour drive tonight.
The Venue
I’ve pulled up on a quiet housing estate just off Cropston Road, somebody doing the same asks me to roll down my window, he’s a groundhopper from Buckinghamshire and is not sure what to expect. “Get in early” I tell him. “There’s not many seats”.
I make a quick phone call before heading in myself, segregation on the door tonight as there’s two turnstiles open instead of the usual one, a bit of a queue to get in, you feel tonight will be a busy one, with cup hopefuls having heard about an appealing draw at Field Mill awaiting the winners.
The drizzle fills the air as the Coaches set out the cones, the ground probably already busier than last week an hour ahead of kick off as the Macclesfield fans enter, I’ve walked around the whole perimeter (twice) trying to find somewhere suitable as I bump in to an old fella who tells me he used to play for Burnley, Man City and Bayern Munich. I think he’s pulling my leg as he tells me of his coaching days at Basel in Switzerland when he managed the likes of Xherdan Shaqiri and Mo Salah in the U21's. He’s a Mac fan who’s lad apparently coaches for them, the old boy hates Robbie Savage though, he once wrote to him for a coaching job, Savage saying “you need badges these days old timer” His response was “what about my UEFA pro license you c*nt”.
He tells me that Savage ensured players (when he was Director of Football) had clauses in their contracts at Macclesfield that meant they could leave to higher division clubs for just £250. So when he went to Forest Green Rovers he took a few with them on the cheap.
I’m not sure if I’ve heard any truth off this old fella as I tempt Googling former Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Burnley players who have coached in Switzerland (maybe someone can help??), but it’s an enjoyable conversation nonetheless.
The Game
I’ve moved from behind the dugout, where it’s too busy, to the opposite side, where it’s too busy (and wet) standing in the cold, so I decide to sit behind the goal for kick off under a small covered stand which is busy, it’s all going well as the players come out, then some twats decide to stand in front of the stand, I can’t see anything so hop up over the seats, and walk over to my ‘usual place’ under the covered stand with one row of red seating, ironically nobody has bothered to sit down in any of those seats (due largely to the crap placing of them), so I do, and finally I’m at ease just a few minutes into kick off.
Anstey in red are kicking down the slope, have a lot of territory and are knocking on the away sides door who are pretty poor in a dull first half that has endless stoppages for niggling fouls, the Referees whistle is blown on repeat, minute after minute we are stopping for something, it’s ugly, almost feisty and fiery, as Cameron Borthwick-Jackson goes up for a header on half way, he’s done his back in and sits one leg on the pitch, the rest of his body off, for a good five minutes receiving treatment, he’s been subbed but is still reluctant to move, before finally standing up and nonchalantly walking all of two yards to the dugout.
The Score
It’s been a crap first half, Dibble in the Macclesfield goal has been called upon to make a decent stop from Liversidge whilst Price in the Anstey goal has had little to do bar kicking long. I’m getting anxious about a long night and penalties and what goal they might choose as anything over the far side to my right seems so far away, I’m around 30 yards out sat at pitch level and the view, as I’ve found out wherever I am at this place, is pretty crap.
An immediate reaction though from the National League North side. Anstey kick off the second half and immediately go back to their keeper but Danny Elliott charges down the ball and wins his team a throw-in, they have come out with the bit between their teeth and suddenly play on the front foot with all the possession and play in the Anstey half, and after a bit of pressure, George Wilson breaks the deadlock, a low shot into the corner to give the Silkmen the lead on 57.
Less than ten minutes later one becomes two on 66 when Danny Elliott blasts an absolute belter into the top corner from the angle, it’s hit a hundred miles an hour as it crashes in off the underside of the crossbar, one of those that nestles the wet net with water splashing everywhere.
That goal pretty much seals the deal before the busy workmanlike angry on the night Josh Kay gets involved. It’s not been one for the purists, but those who scrap and fight like Kay, shine brightest, he adds to an earlier yellow card a well taken goal as he blasts hard and low into the corner, before running away and knee sliding in front of a few away fans braving the elements at the open end near the corner flag.
It turns out to be a routine win where perhaps fitness, patience and nouse comes out on top in the end, Mac remember have been here before, they seem to love the cup, and will continue in it with a trip to League One Mansfield next.
The Stars
As I say it’s not been a night for the culture vultures, Oscar Tonge a left sided player with some swagger and guile, who I really like for Anstey, dragged off after the hour, likewise Jon Ustabasi the ex-Fylde playmaker who’s not been warming to some Macclesfield fans since he signed in the summer (the fella stood behind me doesn’t see what he brings to the table), it feels there's often something missing in his wavelength, not quite on the understading of those around him, yet, but with total understanding of their duty, Sam Heathcote and Tom Wilson defend at centre half as they bloody should on a night like this. Heathcote in particular enjoying himself, spraying some lovely long passes forward and meeting every header full on, whilst Josh Kay was probably the games most destructive player, busy in midfield, tackling, irritating, busting forward, the cold, wet and crap pitch clearly suiting his style.
As for Anstey, much of the same, the physical lads looking perhaps the best on the night, 'big' Jordan Annable doing well at the back, whilst 'big' Tom Liversidge put a shift on in midfield, 'big' Tendai Chitiza always impressing, he can play anywhere in the front six and will always do a decent job no matter the weather.
The Verdict
This defeat means I hopefully don't have to come back here for a while. I repeat it's not that I don't like the place in general, it's actually really useful for me to get to, but on a night where over a thousand fans crammed inside this little most basic of open air venues, no stewards, no tannoys, no decent side on seating under cover, even the 'temporary' media tent looked to have obstructed views, the floodlights are shit, and the numbers on Anstey's backs are crap too, there's more to not like, than like, and until improvements are made, I really can't force myself to like it enough to return again.
As for the actual players, I can't help but like their team, organised and relatively solid (but limited) in defence, game in midfield, they have goals in them, they should be up there for promotion this season, but if they do go up, those changes will certainly need to be made at the ground.
In comparison, Macclesfield is a big club and they have a serious team, one that might have taken their opponents lightly for around 135 minutes over one and a half legs of this game, but in the final 45 they stepped up the gas, and proved their class, in Danny Elliott they have a competent goalscorer at National North level, in the likes of George Wilson and Josh Kay they have proper footballers that will dominate midfields, defenders in Sam Heathcote and Tom Wilson who attack everything. They are currently top of the tree in their division, and don't rule out more progression in the cup. Another shock on the cards perhaps? I wouldn't rule them out suprising Mansfield, they have certainly fried bigger fish before.
The Teams
Anstey Nomads: Harley Price, Elliot Hartman, Darien Wauchope, Jordan Annable (Jonty Bouch 58), Lewis Gibbens, Tobias Liversidge, Oscar Tonge (Luis Rose 67), Henry Bestwick, Corey Granthem (Tristian Thomas 67), Tendai Chitiza, Harvey Kirby-Moore.
Macclesfield: Christian Dibble, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson (Elliot Osbourne 30), George Wilson (Paul Dawson 71), Danny Elliott (Theo Chapman 71), Luke Duffy, Sam Heathcote, Finley Shrimpton, Tom Wilson, Josh Kay (Matthew Apter 80), Jon Ustabasi (Carlos Dos Santos 71), Amar Dyer.
7:45pm Kick Off. Tuesday 20th October 2026, Cropston Road, Anstey (att 1,000).
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