United travel to Moss Rose on Saturday for their penultimate match of the season. It’s a game the Us have to win if they are to have a chance of competing in the play-offs, while Macclesfield also need a win to be certain of third division safety. On current form a home win is much more likely than any other result.

United’s line-up, as ever, is uncertain, although the game has probably come too early for Matt Robinson to return to the side. However both Danny Brown and Jon Ashton are likely to be in the frame for a return to the team, and Barry Quinn could also feature having been brought off early in Monday’s reserve match and also this evening’s Oxon Senior Cup Final against Banbury United. Andy Crosby will miss the game, as he is suspended, and up front there is still a question mark over Steve Basham’s fitness.

Macclesfield were looking relegation certainties until a few weeks ago, when former U’s boss Brian Horton became their manager until the end of this season. He has turned Macc around and they have climbed above York, and are now five points ahead of second-bottom Carlisle. In a seriously optimistic frame of mind Rage Online still can’t see United achieving anything other than a 0-0 draw up in Cheshire.

In tonight’s Senior Cup Final, Banbury United beat Oxford United thanks to a first half goal from Mark Simms. Quinn was the only United player with senior experience, and it showed as the Banbury players were stronger and more disciplined. Triallist ‘keeper Bradie Clarke did well, and could do nothing to prevent the Banbury goal, but United lacked a cutting edge up front and, once Quinn was replaced by Paul Burton, the Us lost the midfield battle. Although Billy Beechers and Craig Davies both went close United never really looked like getting the equaliser, and Banbury ran out deserved winners.