By Nathan Jackson
December 2 2005

Lincoln face a real 6 pointer on Saturday, if the Imps lose to Macclesfield, the visitors will climb above their hosts. Ominously, Macclesfield are without an away win the league but have shown improvement since the return from injury of City's former transfer target, Jon Parkin.

Let's not beat around the bush, Lincoln are in a relegation battle and Saturday sees a "6 pointer" against Macclesfield and if it's anything like the game after we beat Scunthorpe in the playoffs, it could be a very happy day for the Imps, however, as usual, the Imps will have to pick up their performances as they try to put a run of just 2 wins in 14 games behind them.

Games between the 2 sides are often good games and only once, has the final score been 0-0 and if it's anything like the game in 2003/4, it should be a thriller, especially with the return of Kevin Sandwith, who left the Imps for the Silkmen in the summer

Interestingly enough, this is the 3rd time that we've had the referee, Booth so far this season and the two other occasions, came against two other teams from near Macclesfield, Rochdale and Chester, neither of which, City lost.

Nothing new to particully report except for Cryan returning from injury and Beevers available for selection following his suspension against Northampton, it will be a big surprise if Keith doesn't start with the same side the started against the Cobblers.

Who I think will start (Right to left)

Marriott

McAuley    Morgan    McCombe   Mayo

Brown  Kerr Keates

Logan    Asamoah      Birch

 

If ever one club needed to be promoted in a season, it was Macclesfield last season, as the chairman splashed out of an array of talent, including former City man, Mark Bailey. After City knocked them out of the playoffs, they suddenly started going deeply into the red and are said to be heavily in debt and this was given as an early official reason for their sacking of Kevin Townson, although it now appears that it's because he urinated in a car park. Now that is really taking the piss.

It summed up Macclesfield's season so far and they currently lie 22nd in the table but a win would put them above Lincoln. However, to do that, they would have to stop a run of 5 consecutive defeats at Sincil Bank, 4 of which they haven't scored in. An early indication that things had changed came on the very first day of the season. They faced a trip to Orient, a repeat of last season's opening day fixture where the Silkmen had won 3-1, however, Macclesfield lost this time 2-1 thanks to a last minute Zakuani goal that is surely the cheekiest scored this season. However, 4 days later saw an improved performance but Cheltenham still came away with a point from Moss Rose after a 2-2 draw.

A defeat at Barnet was followed by, what several Macclesfield fans deem "the best Tuesday night in the club's history". Macclesfield faced Nottingham Forest at the City Ground in the Carling Cup and not only did they impress, but they beat the former European Champions 3-2.

This couldn't improve their league form though as they lost on the road to Rochdale but they beat Bury 1-0 in a nice local derby. A 2-2 draw at Boston was followed by a 2-0 defeat at Carlisle, however, they did record only their second league win of the season just a few days later when they beat Rushden 3-1. 4 days later however and Northampton scored 4 at Moss Rose for the 2nd time in 3 seasons as they won 4-1. Cardiff eliminated the Silkmen from the Carling Cup with a 2-1 victory before another trip to Wales saw them pick up a creditable point at Wrexham. They made it 3 points from 3 games with draws against Mansfield and Notts County but a 1-0 defeat at Darlington and a 4-0 thumping by Peterborough saw them in the relegation zone of the division.

A moral boosting victory over Chesterfield in the LDV was followed by a draw at Torquay. 3 points were picked up in a 2-1 win at home to Bristol Rovers but a very creditable draw at home to Yeovil in the FA Cup. However, Macc slipped to a 3-1 defeat at Grimsby before Yeovil thrashed them 4-0 in the FA Cup Replay.

They extracted revenge on Darlington by beating them 1-0 2 weeks ago before making progress in the LDV by recording a win at Rotherham and last week, a crowd of just 1,649 saw them take a point off Leyton Orient.