Do the Math(s)

The Silkmen`s 2-0 win at Chester City has all-but ended any lingering relegation doubts hanging over the Silkmen, but exactly what chance is there of the club going down?

On a simple level, this result ensured that Luton cannot overhaul the Silkmen whilst Chester need three wins and a draw to just match the Silkmen`s current total.

Worth noting here that all of these are based on Macc not picking up a single further point.

For Macc to go down the following has to happen:





0 Chester must pick up a minimum of three wins and a draw from their final four games.


0 And Grimsby need to win three of their remaining four.


0 And, Bournemouth have to win two from four.





All seems simple enough, until you spot that Bournemouth play both Chester and Grimsby before the end of the season.

So if either of their two wins comes against Chester City, it`s all over. If Bournemouth draw with Chester, then City need a 100% record from Accrington, Aldershot and Darlington.

If either of the two Bournemouth victories comes against Grimsby, then the Mariners need a 100% record from Notts County, Port Vale and, of course, Macclesfield.

Bournemouth losing to both Chester and Grimsby would mean the Cherries themselves needing a 100% record from Brentford and Morecambe.

There is a little bit of leeway with Chester being able to draw with or beat Bournemouth, Grimsby having one extra possible to play with and Bournemouth being able to win one and draw three.

But the possible permutations that could lead to the Silkmen`s drop into the Blue Square are very few and far between, and boil down to Bournemouth needing to drop points their two ‘easier` matches and win their two harder ones.

With the Silkmen now having picked up four points from the last two matches, the least likely part of all would surely be the club finishing the season with four straight defeats.