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"I signed Matty McNeil from Hyde United last week. I've seen him play a few games and he's been good in training, hopefully he'll give a bit of presence up front and make his debut in an excellent game. He's 6ft 5in and very quick, I’m extremely pleased that he has joined us.
"We have a good home record and have beaten Carlisle 3-0, although they're a very good side and have had a great run of results since then. We’ve got the away goal, which counts after extra time, and given ourselves a great chance if we play like we did against Carlisle at home in the league. However, if we play like we did against Rushden we’ve got no chance.
"It's certainly going to be a tough game, but what a bonus for us. We looked good in training today and I have every confidence that we can make it to the Millennium Stadium.
"To get to any final, particularly at the Millennium Stadium, is awesome. I went there with Port Vale and won it, to be honest it was of the best days of my career in football. It would be tremendous for the Club to play in the final.
"It’s one of the most important games in the club’s history in terms of raising revenue and the profile of Macclesfield. It would be lovely if we could get a big crowd at the Moss Rose, and everyone can get behind the team. Carlisle will probably bring between 1,500 and 2,000 fans with them so it should be a great occasion."
Town will be hoping to claw back a 2-1 deficit from the first leg, played at Brunton Park two weeks ago. On that night Macc' midfielder Andy Smart put the visitors 1-0 ahead with a superb finish in the ninth minute, that lead didn't last long though as that man Karl Hawley equalised for United just eleven minutes later. That scoreline remained the same until the last minute of the match when stand-in skipper Peter Murphy headed home from a Simon Hackney corner after a midfield stalemate for the majority of the match on an utter bog of a pitch. Macclesfield will be hoping that their away goal will come into play in what promises to be a tight second leg but only a 1-0 win for them after 120 minutes of play would see Town gain any advantage from it.
Surprisingly the supposedly cash-strapped Silkmen signed striker Matty McNeil on loan from Conference North side Hyde United last Thursday. The former Stalybridge Celtic targetman has been Hyde's supporters' player-of-the-year for the past two seasons after signing from Runcorn. McNeil has joined the Silkmen until the end of the season and will play his first game for the Cheshire outfit tonight following the postponement of Macclesfield's league game at Bury four days ago.
Clyde Wijnhard, who played against United in the first leg, will miss the clash as he will be having an operation tomorrow on his troublesome knee injury. Left-back Mark Bailey will also be absent from the teamsheet for the home side as his achilles injury is causing him problems. One good piece of news for the Silkmen though is that Paul Harsley will be available for selection after passing a fitness test.
United, on the other hand, go into the game with, amazingly at this time of the season, a first-team squad completely free of injuries and suspension, the only players unavailable for selection being Raphael Nade and the in-form Michael Bridges. Nade is currently on loan at Conference South side Weymouth while Bridges is cup-tied following a substitute appearance for Bristol City against Barnet in the early stages of the competition.
That good news is tempered in some ways for Blues manager Paul Simpson as it gives him, and the rest of the United coaching staff, a real tactical headache for the match. My guess is that the form of Simon Hackney of late will see him gain a starting berth on the left-hand side of the Carlisle midfield in a 4-4-2 formation with Chris Billy, Chris Lumsdon and Adam Murray alongside him. Twenty-two-goal League Two player of the season Karl Hawley and Derek Holmes leading the line upfront and hoping to grab what could prove to be a vital away goal for the Cumbrians on the night.
The travelling Blue Army should number at least a 1,000 strong and both fans and players alike will be hoping they don't see a repeat of the 3-0 league defeat at Moss Rose back at the end of January. 2198 Carlisle fans were that day only to go away disappointed after seeing what many regard as the worst 45 minutes of football the team has served up this season in an awful first-half display. Let's just hope that the Cumbrians can keep their excellent record in the competition going tonight and reach their fourth LDV Vans Trophy final in the last 12 years.
For a full head-to-head preview of the previous results between the two teams Click here
* And don't forget the rules regarding away goals :
In the Area Final ties, if the aggregate scores are level at the end of 90 minutes in the second leg, an extra half hour shall be played. If the aggregate scores are still level at the end of extra time the tie shall be decided by goals scored away from home counting twice. If the teams remain level at the end of this procedure, the winner shall be determined by the taking of kicks from the penalty mark in accordance with the Laws of Association Football.