Tuesday 12th February 2008

Kick-off 7.45pm

Alan Buckley's Grimsby side sail into Town this evening on the crest of a wave and looking to extend their unbeaten run in the league to ten games and push towards a play-off place. By marked contrast, despite some excellent away form the Silkmen have picked up just two points from their last seven games at the Moss Rose, their last win coming back in early November.

IAN'S THOUGHTS ON THE GAME
"We've another opportunity tonight to put our disappointing home form behind us! The lads are doubly determined to make up for our previous two games against Bradford and Lincoln and we can take a lot of confidence from the result at Morecambe at the weekend. We proved again that we are capable of keeping clean sheets and battling hard against a very good team. We'll need more of that tonight against one of the division's form teams. The first goal is crucial and if we can get our noses in front early on it should help to settle everyone down."

OPPO's CURRENT FORM

The Mariners have picked up four wins and three draws from their last seven away trips to leave them with a record of P15 W5 D4 L6 F17 A20 PTS19

The currently lie 11th in the League Two table just six points outside the play-off positions.

Wins at: Lincoln (2-1), Barnet (3-0), Brentford (1-0), Chester (2-0), Chesterfield (2-0)

Draws against: Bury (1-1), Stockport (1-1), Dagenham (0-0), Notts Co (1-1)

Defeats to: Shrewsbury (2-1), Accrington (4-1), Peterborough (2-1), Wycombe (3-0), Rotherham (2-1), MK Dons (2-0)

EARLIER THIS SEASON

The Silkmen travelled to Blundell Park back in August and looked to be heading for their first win of the season when Martin Gritton put us ahead just past the hour mark. But in a precursor of perhaps what was to follow we failed to hang onto the lead when defender Andy Taylor equalised on 74 minutes in front of a crowd of 3701.

PAST ENCOUNTERS

This will be our 8th meeting with the Mariners. Aside the from result earlier this season here is how we have fared.

2006/2007

Macclesfield Town 2-1 Grimsby Town 24-02-2007

Grimsby Town 1-1 Macclesfield Town 01-09-2006

2005/2006

Macclesfield Town 1-1 Grimsby Town 29-04-2006

Grimsby Town 3-1 Macclesfield Town 11-11-2005

2004/2005

Grimsby Town 0-0 Macclesfield Town 26-12-2004

Macclesfield Town 3-1 Grimsby Town 11-09-2004

LATEST ODDS

Bet365 fancy the Silkmen just to win this one, the home side priced at 6/4 to win tonight. You can get 8/5 on a Grimsby win, with the draw priced at 12/5.

ONE TO WATCH - Danny North

The local lad came through the ranks to lift the club's Young Player of the Year Award last season and has continued his progress with a clutch of goals in recent weeks. The latest came at the weekend at home to Shrewsbury, not to mentioning playing his part in securing a penalty for the Mariners that was tucked away by Danny Boshell. His progress in 2008 was acknowledge when he was named Coca-Cola Player of the Month for January.