Blues Play-Off Eliminator Preview: Macclesfield v Chester FC

Chester FC's second play-off campaign in succession begins tomorrow, with a trip to East Cheshire to play Macclesfield.

The winner of Wednesday’s tie will face a quick turnaround for a clash on the road with Kidderminster Harriers at 12:30 on Saturday afternoon.

The two previous meeting this campaign have ended in success for Chester, both via a 2-0 scoreline, with the first through goals from Dylan Mottley-Henry and Tom Leak at the Deva in December, before another from Mottley-Henry was paired with a Jack Bainbridge header to secure all three points on Easter Monday.

The Opposition

Macclesfield had solidified their position in the play-offs prior to their final sequence of league fixtures, which saw with a dip in form after a stunning rise throughout the first few months of 2026.

This positive spell included a streak of six wins from seven outings prior to their Easter Monday defeat at the hands of the Seals.

The Silkmen’s regular campaign ended with a run of three defeats out of four, culminating in a tight loss on the road at Radcliffe on Saturday.

The Gaffer

John Rooney has been in charge at the Leasing.com Stadium since last summer, following Robbie Savage’s departure to join Forest Green Rovers.

It’s Rooney first job in senior management after he called time on his playing career with the Silkmen following a NPL Premier Division title win last term.

One to Watch

Paul Dawson has made a standout contribution to the Silkmen as captain throughout the campaign.

The 27-year-old has found the back of the net on 12 occasions in the National League North from central midfield, with two more arriving in the Emirates FA Cup, including the opener during a famous victory against Crystal Palace.

Signed from NPL Premier Division outfit Bamber Bridge in 2023, Dawson has made a major impact since his arrival in East Cheshire.

MATCH DETAILS

Kick off is 7:45pm on Wednesday at the Leasing.com Stadium. The address for the ground is London Road, Macclesfield SK11 7SP.

TICKET DETAILS

Segregation is in place for the game, and our allocation of 1,000 away tickets for the fixture has sold out. Official Away Travel for this fixture has also sold out.