Published at 16:12, Tuesday, 11 December 2012

MACCLESFIELD boss Steve King welcomes back midfielder John Paul Kissock tonight for a cup tie he believes is worth £100,000.

Kissock, a former Barrow triallist, missed the Silkmen’s 1-1 draw at Forest Green Rovers on Saturday through suspension, but – along with ex-Bluebirds favourite Jack Mackreth, who was an unused substitute at the New Lawn – is pushing for a start.

King, who has one of the best squads in Blue Square Bet Premier at his disposal, was as frustrated as Barrow counterpart Dave Bayliss when the second round tie at Holker Street was postponed 10 days ago because of what referee Eddie Ilderton deemed a partly-frozen pitch.

Since then the draw for the third round has been made, with tonight’s winners (a replay, should it be required, would be played on December 18) guaranteed a home game against Championship pole-sitters Cardiff City.

King told The Non-League Paper: “To play Cardiff at home would be a massive one.

“It’ll be a tough game against Barrow, though. I’ve watched them four times this season and they don’t give you a minute’s rest. We might have beaten them 2-0 at home earlier in the season, but that won’t have any bearing on the cup tie because of the prize that is at stake.

“The potential windfall for either club to win is around £100,000, with the £27,000 second round prize money, a share of what we hope will be a big gate at Barrow and the guaranteed revenue from playing a Championship club at home in the third round.”

Ninth-placed Macclesfield, relegated from the Football League last season, ended a run of four defeats with a 3-2 home win over Hyde last Tuesday. The draw at high-flying Forest Green will have provided a further confidence boost.

The Silkmen, who shocked Paolo Di Canio’s Swindon Town 2-0 in the FA Cup first round, have a third player with Barrow connections in the shape of winger Peter Till, who had a loan spell at Holker Street in 2009.

Top-scorer Matthew Barnes-Homer, who netted both goals when Macclesfield beat Barrow in August, is likely to start up front with Chris Holroyd. Left-back Craig Braham-Barrett is an injury doubt.

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