Big Match Preview: Stevenage v Silkmen

7 September 2018

Come on you Boro...

Key Matchday Info…

For the latest information on ticketing, parking, opening times, matchday events and everything else in-between, take a read of our What's On guide.

Academy Day...

Saturday is Academy Day 2018 which means we are celebrating all things good about the junior arm of Stevenage Football Club.

We are encouraging all supporters to watch the U18s take on Barnet at Shephalbury Sports Academy in the morning, before making their way to the Lamex Stadium for the main event at 3pm.

The U18s kick-off at 10:30am and we will have a BBQ, community offerings and activities for kids all part of the event at Shephalbury Sports Academy.

After things wrap up, all players, staff and parents will walk up to the Lamex Stadium for Stevenage’s clash with Macclesfield Town.

Stevenage Academy players, from U9s to U18s will be present at the game where they will take part in a half-time lap of applause, so please be in-place to show the boys your support.

Onto the game...

Defeat to Cambridge last Saturday was Stevenage's second in a row after getting off to an unbeaten start to the season from the first four games.

The manner of the performance disappointed many, none-more-so than the players and management who have gone about making the most of their first free week on the training pitch in over a month.

By all accounts it has been a positive, productive week of training with the group desperate to put on a performance against Macclesfield and ultimately, get back to winning ways.

The Silkmen are back in the EFL for the first time in eight years and it has been a difficult start with the team still searching for their first win.

A change in Manager over the summer has no doubt disrupted preperations as John Askey left for Shrewsbury after more than five years at Moss Road.

Not helping matters is the fact that Macclesfield will be playing their fifth away game of the season on Saturday, despite only playing twice at home. All four road trips so far have resulted in four defeats.

Team news...

Michael Timlin is available again after serving his one game suspension last Saturday following his sending off at Yeovil the week prior.

The rest of the squad are in a good place with no serious injuries affecting the group.

View from the camp...

Stevenage boss, Dino Maamria:

"I love playing at home, I love playing in-front of our fans, they back us from the first minute to the last minute.

"I enjoy being there with them and I think it is a bonus for the game to be at home. I hope the Cambridge game is over and done with and we can have a good performance and the score will look after itself so we can be back on the front-foot."

Previous meetings...

Played: 9 | Won: 3 | Drawn: 3 | Lost: 3

Stevenage and Macclesfield are relative strangers to each other with the clubs only having met each other on nine previous occasions, with seven of those coming in non-league.

Thanks to some particularly heavy wins - including a 4-0 win the last time the two clubs met - Stevenage have a +8 GD against the Silkmen.

The fixture will always be memorable one for many Stevenage fans though as it was the game in which we kicked-off our EFL journey, eight years ago.

📹 #Throwback

Last time we played @thesilkmen at home was our first EVER game in the @EFL...#StevenageFC #WeAreStevenage pic.twitter.com/xKz5IsFNO4
— Stevenage FC 🔴⚪ (@StevenageFC) September 7, 2018

Online coverage...

Live match commentary will be available for UK iFollow subscribers so make sure you sign up to listen to every game. If you are based outside of the UK & Ireland, you can stream the game LIVE!

Make sure you are following our Twitter account throughout the day as we bring you the very latest from the Lamex Stadium.

iFollow subscribers will also be able to access full match highlights along with all the post-match reaction on Sunday.

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Match Reports

REPORT: Stevenage 1-0 Macclesfield

8 September 2018

Three points...

Stevenage returned to winning ways on Saturday as Danny Newton’s first goal of the season made all the difference in a tight contest against Macclesfield at home.

After opening the scoring just before half-time, Stevenage saw out the game in a professional fashion against a spirited Macclesfield side to record their third victory from seven games.

Dino Maamria named four changes to the side that were defeated by Cambridge just a week earlier – Kennedy, Ball, Timlin and Nugent all restored to the starting line-up to try and give the team the impetus needed to bounce back with a win after two straight defeats.

It was another quiet opening to the game from Stevenage who took around 15 minutes to get going and really start threatening the Silkmen defence.

Alex Revell had the first good chance of the game, chasing onto a long ball over the top before taking it past the keeper, only to lose his footing at the crucial moment. Seconds later, James Ball picked up the ball on the edge but his low, arrowed shot flew just wide of the post.

Familiar face, Peter Vincenti had a lively opening to the game and could have scored twice inside the first 25 minutes. Farman was too sharp for his audacious chip on 16 minutes whilst five minutes later, the former Stevenage man couldn’t quite get on the end of a teasing cross by Welch—Hayes.

As the clock hit the half hour mark, Stevenage were well on top and perhaps with a bit more sharpness, Danny Newton would have netted his first of the season after James-Wildin crossed for the striker following a strong run down the right.

Maamria’s men really picked up the ante just before the half as Revell saw a goal-bound header cleared off the line and Timlin hit a fierce strike that flew narrowly wide of the far post.

Macclesfield’s Napa fired high and wide in a rare Silkmen attack but it never looked like troubling Farman’s goal and right before the half was out, Stevenage struck.

Danny Newton back in the goals with his first of the season as he headed in from Kennedy’s corner to make it 1-0. A welcome return to goalscoring form for Stevenage’s top marksman last season.

After a comfortable start to the second half, Stevenage’s first change of the game came on 60 minutes and on Academy Day, it was former scholar Arthur Iontton who replaced Michael Timlin.

Macclesfield’s biggest threat throughout the game was Malachi Napa, who had numerous shots on goal throughout the game, all to no avail. The attacker came close again on 65 minutes as his long-range shot was dragged wide.

Substitute Harry Smith could have levelled things up with 20 minutes left as he burst through on goal but a heavy touch allowed Farman to come out and make the stop.

It was a nervy spell in the game for Boro as the Silkmen began to push forward. Steve Seddon was needed to make an absolutely vital block during a goal-line scramble that but for his intervention, would have hit the back of the net.

Sonupe replaced Kennedy on 75 minutes and Guthrie replaced Newton as Stevenage were made to dug-in for the remaining minutes of the game.

Macclesfield’s best chance for an equaliser came during six minutes of added time as Keith Lowe’s rapturous shot cannoned into Ben Nugent’s face, denying the Silkmen a first road win of the season.

Ticket News

Stevenage return home on Saturday for Macclesfield clash

5 September 2018

Come on you Boro...

Stevenage are back at the Lamex Stadium on Saturday 8th September 2018 for the visit of recently promoted, Macclesfield Town.

It is the first game between the two sides in over seven years and after last Saturday's defeat to Cambridge, Dino and the boys will be desperate to bounce back with three points at home.

Don't forget, Saturday is Academy Day 2018 and as such, we are encouraging all our supporters to get behind the U18s earlier that day at Shephalbury Sports Academy. Click here for more info.

Reduced prices for Adults in the East Terrace this season mean that it has been years since watching the Super Boro has been so affordable for so many.

It doesn't matter whether you buy in-advance or on the day of the game, prices remain the same.

	Adults:	Concessions:	Under 18s:	Under 12s:	Family of 3 (1 Adult & 2 U12s)	Family of 4 (2 Adults & 2 U12s)
East:	£15	£15	£10	£5	N/A	N/A
West:	£22	£20	£15	£10	£30	£45
South:	£22	£20	£15	£10	N/A	N/A

Secure your space from either borotickets.co.uk, over the phone on 01438 223223 or by visiting the club shop and get behind the boys as we strive for success once again.

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