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Predictions graded

Macclesfield FC2Scarborough Athletic2

HT 0–2Sat 3 Oct 2026, 14:00 Predictions graded

Predictions7–847%

Edges0–50%

Quick Take

Pre-match view

Context last updated 3 Oct 2026, 00:01 · Europe/Bucharest

Macclesfield's unbeaten home run meets a Scarborough side that has drawn all three recent meetings, including 0-0 here three weeks ago.

Macclesfield are the likelier winners, but 1.7 asks too much, and under 2.5 goals at 1.8 is also short. The prices that hold up are no goal in the first half at 2.8 and the half-time draw at 2.2.

Context

The sides met at the same ground on 8 September and drew 0-0, with Macclesfield reduced to ten men inside the opening 18 minutes. Scarborough could not break the hosts down and needed an injury-time chance to come close to winning it. A league point and a knockout tie reward different approaches, so the stalemate is a direct read on the matchup rather than a template for it.
- Macclesfield 0-0 Scarborough Athletic in the National League North on 8 September 2026.
- Macclesfield were down to ten men from the 18th minute.
- Scarborough's manager afterwards: 'We just couldn't break them down.'
- Scarborough's Mo Fadera went close to a winner in injury time.
ConfirmedSources checked 2 Oct 2026, 23:59 · Europe/Bucharest
Macclesfield build their scoring into the second half rather than the first, so the opening 45 minutes is where their matches have stayed tightest; a Scarborough side averaging 0.33 first-half goals makes an early goal against them unlikely, which frames the first half as the likelier stalemate while the second is where the goals have come.
- Macclesfield average 0.36 first-half goals and 1.0 second-half goals across 11 competitive matches from 8 August to 26 September 2026.
- In the same 11 matches they concede 0.18 first-half goals and 0.45 second-half goals per game.
- Macclesfield scored in nine of those 11 matches and kept five clean sheets over the run.
Reaching the fourth qualifying round is the immediate prize, and the National League clubs enter at that stage before the first round proper opens to League One and League Two sides on 7 November. Because both clubs play in the National League North, the tie carries no divisional mismatch to lean on. That leaves a two-win path to a first round proper draw as the reward on offer.
- The tie is the Emirates FA Cup third qualifying round, with Macclesfield at home at the Leasing.com Stadium.
- Scarborough Athletic stand two wins from the FA Cup first round proper.
- The 24 National League clubs enter at the fourth qualifying round, and League One and League Two clubs join at the first round proper on 7 November.
- Both clubs play in the National League North.
ConfirmedSources checked 2 Oct 2026, 23:59 · Europe/BucharestTicket news for the Third Round Qualifying tiemacclesfieldfc.com · 23 Sep 2026
Rooney is explicit that the competition matters to Macclesfield, and he carries the league's August manager-of-the-month award into the tie. That gives the tie a stated priority rather than treating it as a distraction from the league. Intent expressed in a pre-match interview is not a selection guarantee, so how strongly he fields his preferred XI remains a teamsheet question.
- John Rooney's pre-tie line: 'We want to go as far as we can in this competition.'
- Rooney is the Enterprise National League North manager of the month for August 2026.
ConfirmedSources checked 2 Oct 2026, 23:59 · Europe/Bucharest

BetBugs edges

Compare BetBugs' chances with the market's.

Positive edges · 3

BetBugs probabilities

How likely BetBugs thought each outcome was.

Result2 of 5 landed

Signal quality Medium · Uncertainty band Slight lean · Market price 1.70
The read
Macclesfield's strong home record and better overall form give them the clearer path to win, though the head-to-head pattern is tight.
- Macclesfield are unbeaten at home this season: 4 wins and 1 draw in 5, conceding 2 goals.
- Overall Macclesfield have 7 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss in 11 competitive matches.
- Scarborough have lost 3 of 7 away league matches and concede 1.86 goals per away match.
- The three recent head-to-heads all ended level, including a 0-0 at this ground on 8 September.
BetBugs · Match WinnerlostMacclesfield FCEstimated chance52%
Signal quality Medium · Uncertainty band Slight lean · Market price 2.20
The read
Both teams have low first-half scoring rates and recent matches have often been level at the break.
- Macclesfield and Scarborough were 0-0 at half-time in the last meeting.
- Scarborough have been level at half-time in 5 of their last 6 matches.
- Macclesfield have been level at half-time in 2 of their last 6 matches.
- Both teams average fewer than 0.7 first-half goals per match.
BetBugs · First Half WinnerlostDrawEstimated chance53%
Signal quality Medium · Uncertainty band Near coin-flip · Not priced
The read
Macclesfield have been stronger after half-time at home, while Scarborough concede late goals away.
- Macclesfield average 1.2 second-half goals at home and concede 0.2.
- Macclesfield scored 2 second-half goals against Hebburn in their last home match.
- Scarborough concede 1.429 second-half goals per away match.
- Scarborough have lost the second half in 2 of their last 6 matches.
BetBugs · Second Half WinnerwonMacclesfield FCEstimated chance38%
Signal quality Low · Uncertainty band Strong lean · Not priced
The read
Macclesfield's strong home record and better overall form give them the clearer path to win, though the head-to-head pattern is tight. The recent head-to-head record and both teams' tendency to stay compact make another draw plausible.
- Macclesfield are unbeaten at home this season: 4 wins and 1 draw in 5, conceding 2 goals.
- Overall Macclesfield have 7 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss in 11 competitive matches.
- All three recent meetings between the clubs ended in draws: 0-0, 2-2 and 1-1.
- Macclesfield have drawn 3 of 11 competitive matches this season.
BetBugs · Double ChancewonMacclesfield FC or DrawEstimated chance79%
Signal quality Low · Uncertainty band Strong lean · Not priced
The read
Macclesfield have started matches better recently, while Scarborough have been slow to score before half-time. Both teams have low first-half scoring rates and recent matches have often been level at the break.
- Macclesfield have scored first-half goals in 4 of their last 6 matches.
- Macclesfield average 0.4 first-half goals at home and concede 0.2.
- Macclesfield and Scarborough were 0-0 at half-time in the last meeting.
- Scarborough have been level at half-time in 5 of their last 6 matches.
BetBugs · Double Chance First HalflostMacclesfield FC or DrawEstimated chance87%

Goals5 of 10 landed

Signal quality Medium · Uncertainty band Slight lean · Market price 1.80
The read
Both teams have recent low-scoring evidence, and the head-to-head series has been tight.
- The last meeting at Macclesfield was a 0-0 draw.
- Two of the last three head-to-heads finished under 2.5 goals.
- Scarborough have scored only 3 goals in their last 6 competitive matches.
- Macclesfield have conceded only 2 goals in 5 home matches.
BetBugs · Goals Over/UnderlostUnder 2.5Estimated chance55%
Signal quality Medium · Uncertainty band Slight lean · Market price 1.80
The read
Macclesfield's home defence has been strong, and the last meeting here was a goalless draw.
- Macclesfield have kept clean sheets in 3 of 5 home matches.
- Scarborough failed to score at Macclesfield on 8 September 2026.
- Scarborough have kept three clean sheets in their last six matches.
- Macclesfield scored in 4 of 5 home matches, but their home defence has been strong.
BetBugs · Both Teams to ScorelostNoEstimated chance57%
Signal quality Medium · Uncertainty band Lean · Not priced
The read
Macclesfield have been held to one goal or fewer by Scarborough in both recent home meetings.
- Macclesfield failed to score in the 0-0 home draw with Scarborough on 8 September.
- Macclesfield scored exactly one goal in the 1-1 home draw with Scarborough in November 2025.
- Scarborough have kept three clean sheets in their last six matches.
- Macclesfield's home average of 1.6 goals means under 1.5 is a narrow call.
BetBugs · Home Goals TotallostMacclesfield FC under 1.5Estimated chance58%
Signal quality Medium · Uncertainty band Lean · Not priced
The read
Macclesfield's home defence has been difficult for Scarborough to break down, including a 0-0 last month.
- Scarborough scored 0 and 1 in their two recent away matches at Macclesfield.
- Macclesfield have kept clean sheets in 3 of 5 home matches.
- Scarborough have scored only 3 goals in their last 6 competitive matches.
- Scarborough's away goals per match is 1.57, but recent form is lower.
BetBugs · Away Goals TotallostScarborough Athletic under 1.5Estimated chance62%
Signal quality Medium · Uncertainty band Slight lean · Not priced
The read
Scarborough regularly score on their travels, so Macclesfield's clean sheet is not assured.
- Scarborough have scored in 6 of 7 away matches this season.
- Scarborough scored in the two meetings before the 0-0 at Macclesfield.
- Macclesfield have conceded in 2 of 5 home matches.
- Scarborough's away goals per match is 1.57.
BetBugs · Team to ScorewonScarborough Athletic to scoreEstimated chance57%
Signal quality Medium · Uncertainty band Strong lean · Not priced
The read
Macclesfield's home scoring record makes a Scarborough clean sheet unlikely.
- Macclesfield average 1.6 goals per home match.
- Macclesfield scored in 4 of 5 home matches this season.
- Scarborough concede 1.86 goals per away match.
- Macclesfield scored 3 goals in a recent home match against Hebburn.
BetBugs · Team to ScorewonMacclesfield FC to scoreEstimated chance70%
Signal quality Medium · Uncertainty band Strong lean · Not priced
The read
Scarborough's away scoring makes a Macclesfield win without conceding less likely.
- Scarborough have scored in 6 of 7 away matches this season.
- Macclesfield have conceded in 2 of 5 home matches.
- Scarborough scored in two of the last three head-to-heads.
- Macclesfield's home wins have not all been to nil.
BetBugs · Home Win to NilwonNoEstimated chance68%
Signal quality Medium · Uncertainty band Strong lean · Not priced
The read
Macclesfield's home scoring record makes a Scarborough win to nil unlikely.
- Macclesfield have scored in 4 of 5 home matches this season.
- Macclesfield average 1.6 goals per home match.
- Scarborough have kept only 2 clean sheets in 7 away matches.
- Macclesfield scored in both recent head-to-heads before the 0-0.
BetBugs · Away Win to NilwonNoEstimated chance88%
Signal quality Medium · Uncertainty band Slight lean · Market price 2.80
The read
Both teams have low first-half scoring averages, and Scarborough have often been scoreless at the break.
- Scarborough have scored only 1 first-half goal in their last 6 matches.
- The last meeting was 0-0 at half-time.
- Macclesfield average 0.36 first-half goals overall.
- Scarborough average 0.33 first-half goals overall.
BetBugs · 1st Half GoalslostUnder 0.5 goals in 1st halfEstimated chance56%
Signal quality Medium · Uncertainty band Slight lean · Not priced
The read
Both teams score and concede after half-time, pointing to a higher chance of two or more second-half goals.
- Macclesfield average 1.2 second-half goals at home.
- Scarborough average 1.286 second-half goals away.
- Scarborough's away matches average 2.71 second-half goals combined.
- Macclesfield's last six matches averaged 1.33 second-half goals.
BetBugs · Goals Over Under Second HalfwonOver 1.5Estimated chance56%

Head-to-Head

0W · 3D · 0W

D0-0MacclesfieldvScarborough AthleticSep 8, 2026NAT

D2-2Scarborough AthleticvMacclesfieldFeb 28, 2026NAT

D1-1MacclesfieldvScarborough AthleticNov 29, 2025NAT

Macclesfield FC unbeaten in 3 meetings2 goals/game avg

Recent Form

Macclesfield FC

W1-0Harborough TownSep 26NAT

W2-1Redcar AthleticSep 19FAC

D1-1Spennymoor TownSep 12NAT

D0-0Scarborough AthleticSep 8NAT

L1-2Merthyr TownSep 5NAT

W3-0Hebburn TownAug 31NAT

W2-1Darlington 1883Aug 29NAT

W2-1Brackley TownAug 22NAT

D0-0Spalding UnitedAug 18NAT

W2-1RadcliffeAug 15NAT

W1-0MarineAug 8NAT

W2-0United of ManchesterAug 1FRI

D1-1TamworthJul 28FRI

W5-2AltrinchamJul 25FRI

D2-2Warrington TownJul 21FRI

Scarborough Athletic

D1-1Brackley TownSep 26NAT

W2-0Dunston UTSSep 19FAC

D0-0Merthyr TownSep 12NAT

D0-0MacclesfieldSep 8NAT

L0-1AFC Telford UnitedSep 5NAT

L1-3King's Lynn TownAug 31NAT

W5-1SouthportAug 29NAT

L1-2ChorleyAug 22NAT

W3-0Spennymoor TownAug 18NAT

W4-3Hednesford TownAug 15NAT

L0-1South ShieldsAug 8NAT

L1-2Harrogate TownAug 1FRI

W1-0Hull City U21Jul 28FRI

L0-2BarnsleyJul 25FRI

L2-4BuxtonApr 28NAT

Squad & Injuries

Macclesfield FC

16 available

Attackers3

Midfielders6

Defenders6

Goalkeeper1

Scarborough Athletic

30 available

Attackers5

Midfielders12

Defenders10

Goalkeeper3

Quick Take

Context

BetBugs edges

Under 0.5 goals in 1st half

Draw

No

Under 2.5

Macclesfield FC

Result2 of 5 landed

Goals5 of 10 landed

Head-to-Head

Recent Form

Macclesfield FC

Scarborough Athletic

Squad & Injuries

Macclesfield FC

Scarborough Athletic