Friday 31st July 2008
Kick-off 7.45pm

Regular Silkmen rivals from the Conference, Northwich Victoria are the penultimate opposition as the pre-season campaign begins to draw to a close. With the first competitive game at Northampton now only a week away, the Silkmen are set to start to play the side likely to start the season.

Despite a valiant end of season run, the Vics were relegated to the Conference North last season with financial issues overshadowing the club, but are hoping to come out of administration as soon as possible.

Tickets for the game are £7 for adults and £5 for Concessions and £1 for all U16s.

KEITH'S THOUGHTS ON THE GAME:
"We still have a few injuries but whilst Paul Morgan won't be playing against Northampton, this is only really a precaution and I'm confident he will be in action against Northampton next weekend for the big kick-off. Other than that I'm hopefully trying to get as close to the side I want to be starting at Northampton as possible."

LAST SEASON:
Although the Vics were relegated at the end of last season, things weren't as bad as they could have been. For a while their financial issues looked set to send them down two divisions to the Northern Premier League, but were eventually given the go-ahead to plan for a Conference North season.

But the Vics didn't go down without a fight. After taking until the end of September to win their first game, the way they ended the season will give them a lot of hope for an immediate possibility of bouncing back. Losing just one of their last nine games, the Vics actually finished the campaign on a run of six straight victories which included victories over York and promotion hunting Oxford.

MATCHDAY INFO
Leave Macc through Knutsford and head along the A5033 across the M6 and then onto the A556. Take the A556 towards Northwich. After two and a half miles you will pass through traffic lights and the Smoker Public House on your left hand side.Continue on the A556 for a further quarter mile then immediately prior to the start of a dual carriage way bear right via traffic lights onto the A559 sign posted Northwich after a further three quarters of mile at traffic lights turn right.

Continue for one mile on the A559 then at the cross roads by the Black Greyhound Public House turn left into Wincham Lane.Immediately past a Car Show Room turn left into Wincham Avenue and proceed to the roundabout, which is almost at the end of the Avenue.The Stadium entrance is on the right hand side just beyond the roundabout.

Tickets for the game are £7 for adults and £5 for Concessions and £1 for all U16s.

WE'VE MET BEFORE
Over the years the two sides have met on many, many occasions stretching way back to meetings in the Combination League in 1890, through the Manchester and Cheshire Leagues and into the inaugural Northern Premier League and finally the Conference. But during this time they have been high profile opposition as Cheshire Cup final opposition and, of course, the Wembley win in 1996.

The Silkmen started the game well and took the lead in the 18th minute as Mark Gardiner lofted a free-kick perfectly onto Steve Payne's head at the far post, who headed past the keeper.

A second goal came after 28 minutes when Marc Coates fired in a low cross intended for Phil Power, and Vics defender David Burgess was unfortunate enough to put the ball past his own goalkeeper.

The pressure was on as the Vics got back into the game, hitting the post before half-time and eventually scoring in the 53rd minute through Carwyn Williams. But tony Hemmings put the icing on the cake with a spectacular solo effort.

Playing a 1-2 with Phil Power deep into his own half and ran the remainder of the length of the pitch, leaving the Vics defence in his wake to slot past Dean Greygoose and secure the 3-1 win for the Silkmen.

Silkmen Team: Ryan Price, Cec Edey, Mark Gardiner, Steve Payne, Neil Howarth, Neil Sorvel, Darren Lyons, Steve Wood, Marc Coates, Phil Power, Tony Hemmings (Kevin Hulme90), Mark Bradshaw

ONE TO WATCH - Jon Newby

Vastly experienced forward who made his name playing more than 140 times for Bury in two spells between 2001 and 2006. Came through the ranks at Liverpool and played in the top flight for the Anfield side. Jon was in League Two with Morecambe in 2007/8, scoring a hat-trick against Rotherham along the way. Joined Greenock Morton last season and spent much of the season on loan at Burton Albion, helping them to last season's Conference title

PLAYED FOR BOTH
As you'd expect from two sides so close by, there are innumerable players who have featured for both clubs.

Some are, of course, more memorable than others such as Darren Tinson and Phil Power. Steve Burr is a former manager of the Vics as is current Silkmen gaffer Keith Alexander. Others to have represented both clubs in more recent years include Michael Welch, Mark Bailey, Andrew Smart, Steve Payne, Michael Carr, Mark Gardiner and Neil Ross. David Moss was also assistant manager at the Vics.