ITWN: Murder at the Moss Rose
It’s been FIFTEEN years since Wrexham last won at Macclesfield Town.
Christ, we were both even Football League clubs back then.
Andy Dibble was in goal for us (son Christian was just eight), big Dennis Lawrence was in the heart of defence whilst his compatriot Carlos Edwards provided wing extravagance going forward.
It was August 24, 2002. Andy Morell and Lee Trundle were the potent strike duo yet it was Morrell’s replacement Hector Sam who struck the only goal of the game just seven minutes after coming on.
John Askey, the current Silkmen boss was a late substitute for the vanquished hosts.
Since then the Moss Rose has been anything but a happy hunting ground.
We lost on our next five visits before securing successive league draws.
We reverted back to type last season as they humbled us 3-0 on both occasions.
Then in August mystical Aladdin baddie Noe Baba scored the only goal to hand the Silkmen a campaign opening victory, pissing on all our initial pre-season optimism in the process.
You have to go back eight clashes since we last tasted victory over the Cheshire set — 1-0 at the Racecourse back in April 2014. We also crushed them 5-2 in an FA Cup replay in October the same year.
I know him…
There are familiar faces on both sides. Chris Holroyd and Jack Mackreth (pictured together for Macc below) have enjoyed Silkmen spells along with Scott Boden.
Shwan Jalal and Elliot Durrell, who both failed to make the grade at the Racecourse have been mainstays of Askey’s starting XI.
Gime Touré? less so. The Frenchman who lit up our pre-season with some unconventional displays was snapped up by Macc, much to the chagrin of many Reds fans who felt the leggy striker was worth a punt.
He has yet to score in 11 outings since swapping Macron red for Umbro blue.
Every Rose has a thorn
Woking, Maidstone United and Eastleigh are the only sides to have emerged victorious at Moss Rose this season.
The Silkmen have drawn their last two games there (2-2 vs Tranmere and 0-0 vs Borehamwood) and last triumphed on their own soil in October, edging out Ebbsfleet United 1-0.
Who prevails?
John Askey, beaten to the Wrexham hot-seat by Keates has instilled the same sort of togetherness and guile as our fair-haired genius.
He has issued a rallying call for Macc fans to come out in their numbers for the 12.30pm kick-off, fully aware he expects us to bring at least 1,000 travelling fans full of optimism.
Our new loan signing George Miller will probably have to settle for a place on the bench after Boden impressed with Holroyd last week.
If he does come on then may I suggest this new terrace song offering sang to Michael Jackson’s 'Thriller’:
‘Cause this is Miller
Miller night
And no one’s gonna save you
From the kid about to strike.’
Catchy? No?
Worth a try…
