A month-by-month review of the 2025/26 Enterprise National League North campaign, chronologically leading us to November!
The Silkmen began the penultimate month of 2025 in the best possible way with victory at home to AFC Totton in the First Round of the Emirates FA Cup, after an enthralling goal-fest, Macc eventually came out on top of the final 6-3 scoreline, courtesy of a Danny Elliott hat-trick, along with goals from Paul Dawson, Rollin Menayese and Lewis Fensome.
Slough Town were announced as the Silkmen’s Second Round opponents, with the tie to be played away from the Leasing.com Stadium for the first time since entering the competition at Arbour Park, and would be televised live on TNT Sports.
Macc would carry their momentum back in to Enterprise National League North action, dispatching Peterborough Sports by three goals to one. Danny Elliott was on the scoresheet once again, along with D’Mani Mellor and the equally in-form Paul Dawson.
In what was to become a thoroughfare of youngsters heading out on loan on dual registration terms, Harry Motley was the first of his year group to ply his trade away from the Leasing.com Stadium, and in his case, at local Northern Premier League outfit Congleton Town.
Telford were the next visitors to Macclesfield to try and dislodge the host’s confidence, in a healthy run of form which had seen the Silkmen climb back towards the play-off spots, and were successful in doing so, holding us to a hard-fought draw in the Club’s annual remembrance fixture. Danny Elliott was once again the man on target, producing a delightful free-kick to level proceedings, though despite their best efforts, a further onslaught on the Telford goal wouldn’t be enough to take all three points.
A re-work surrounding what was fast becoming a congested fixture schedule began with a trip to Hereford postponed due to a waterlogged pitch before our home fixture against Radcliffe was pushed back due to our progression in the Emirates FA Cup, with the Slough fixture pencilled in for the day after the initial date earmarked for the Radcliffe game.
A further four academy prospects followed in Motley’s footsteps, with Fin Foote, Aaron Grewal, Nathan Brown and David Kosatik temporarily taken on by Barnton, Foley Meir, and Stone Old Alleynians.
In a bid to relieve some of the backload, two games were played three days apart with Congleton Town taking on a Macclesfield FC XI whilst the First Team would face Prescot Cables in the Isuzu FA Trophy, both of which at the Leasing.com Stadium, both of which resulted in victory for the Silkmen, progressing to the Third Round in each competition, providing a further administrational headache, but demonstrating encouragement development on the field.
Ethan McLeod scored the only goal in the Trophy tie with Cables to send Macc up to South Shields whilst a 4-1 victory against Congleton in the local Cup tie, courtesy of goals from Luke Duffy, Harry Motley, Max Woltman and Rhys Yates earned a home tie against Crewe.
An additional trio from our Youth Academy, Sam Elliott, Tyler Mistry, and Kerr Dollochin all headed to Winsford United for temporary spells away from Macclesfield before our entire ticket allocation of 600 was announced as sold out for our Emirates FA Cup trip to Slough Town.
The following Saturday frustrated all those associated with Macclesfield FC having made the journey to Norfolk for our next Enterprise National League North fixture away at Kings Lynn Town which was subsequently rained off less than half an hour before kick off with the pitch in poor condition, requiring further adjustments to the fixture schedule, already nearing full capacity. The new date was later confirmed as Wednesday 10th December at the beginning of a hectic festive period.
A new date was provided for the visit to Hereford, delayed until the 20th January with no remaining availability prior. Ahead of a trip to the seaside, Josef Yarney departed the Club via mutual consent whilst Jack Rogers was loaned in from Wigan Athletic, providing further midfield cover and quality having gained League One experience with the Latics, featuring for 45 minutes in the trip to Fylde. It was an evening to forget on the coast as Paul Dawson saw red amidst a 5-1 loss to a dominant side challenging for the league’s lead.
Scarborough Athletic were the Silkmen’s final opponents in November, again forcing the boys in blue to settle for a point. Sam Heathcote was the man to give Macc the lead, cancelled out by Dom Tear’s equaliser ten minutes from time.
Results in November:
Macclesfield FC 6-3 AFC Totton
Macclesfield FC 3-1 Peterborough Sports
Macclesfield FC 1-1 Telford United
Macclesfield FC 1-0 Prescot Cables
Macclesfield FC 4-1 Congleton Town
AFC Fylde 5-1 Macclesfield FC
Macclesfield FC 1-1 Scarborough Athletic
Players signed:
Jack Rogers
Players departed:
Josef Yarney
