Macclesfield can look back on a relatively successful season in which they finished comfortably in mid-table and enjoyed an impressive FA Cup run. The Silkmen were expected to struggle badly before the season kicked off due to the severe cost-cutting measures undertaken and the very poor way the previous campaign added. John Askey seemed to lack the necessary experience and nous to be a first-team manager and indeed the first few weeks of the season were rather disappointing. The team lost at Nuneaton on the first day of the season and a few other poor results kept the Silkmen in the bottom half of the table. But they also showed signs of quality and potential in the game away at Luton, nearly beating them in a clash that finished 1:1. Four defeats in a row in September increased the pressure on the players but they rose to the challenge and turned things around with five league wins from the next six games. Great displays against Barnet, Woking and Forest Green during this run instilled confidence in the players and the team took off in a way that was not expected at all. Danny Whitaker started to show his undoubted leadership and quality from midfield but the biggest sensation was the rise of Connor Jennings. The Scunthorpe loanee went on a great scoring run in the few months ahead and became one of the most potent strikers in the league. The momentum was maintained in the coming weeks and the Silkmen established themselves in mid-table, scoring goals for fun and finding enjoyment again. Their best display of all came in a stunning 4:0 demolition of Swindon in the FA Cup that paved them the way for a profitable tie in the third round. The league form continued to be very good too and four wins during the festive period established them as play-off contenders. The big game with Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup ended in a draw and the team came up short in the replay but took great credit for their efforts. Askey’s men lost Jennings after his half-season loan spell was not renewed though and that took away a lot out of the attacking prowess. The players started to lose their freshness and urgency in February with a few defeats keeping them away from the top five. A dramatic loss at the hands of Luton at home seemed to spell the end of any realistic play-off hopes and the last couple of months of the season saw little excitement for the fans. The players gave the occasional good performance but were mentally off the required level and the campaign faded badly towards the end. That left a feeling of disappointment among the fans at the end but the season was an overall success given the low expectations at the start.
