Macclesfield 2 Darlington 1

Elliott pen 4 mins, 1-0, Maskell 11 mins, 1-1, Mellor 89 mins 2-1

A late goal denied Quakers a deserved point at Moss Rose.

They weathered an early storm to cancel out an early penalty, and went on to battle toe-to-toe with the hosts and missed the chances to go in front, but Macclesfield scored a late winner.

Macclesfield won a corner in the second minute , but Peter Jameson palmed the inswinging corner from the left away,

The home side got a penalty on 4 minutes when Forbes was adjudged to have tripped Danny Elliott as he charged in from the right, and Elliott scored from the spot.

Quakers threatened for the first time on 6 minutes when Tom Allan nearly got away, but Max Dearnley came out of his area and cleared.

Macclesfield nearly got another when Isaac Buckley-Ricketts raced away with just Jameson to beat, but as Jameson came out, he went down claiming that he'd been tripped, but the referee gave a goal kick.

After Griffiths was booked for a foul on Jack Maskell, Hatfield tried his luck from 25 yards but the ball went over the top.

But Quakers bounced back and were level on 11 minutes. The ball was played out to the right for Ben Hedley, who put in a delightful cross into the middle for Maskell to rise and head past the stranded keeper for his first goal of the season.

Quakers were coming more into the game now and had a chance on 21 minutes, when Josh Scott got away down the left, and with three to aim for in the middle, a defender just managed to scramble the ball out for a corner.

Quakers had an opportunity on 30 minutes when Maskell charged the ball down in midfield, raced forward, and had a shot blocked with team mates up in support.

Quakers won a free kick on 32 minutes when Main was brought down just outside the box – no card was shown – and Hatfield’s free kick went into the wall, which seemed to have edged beyond the foam line.

Quakers were now more in control of the game, and were forcing Macclesfield into mistakes

They nearly scored just on half time, when Scott and Main exchanged passes, and Scott ran into the area before he was blocked on the six yard line.

But Macc nearly scored when Buckley-Ricketts pulled the ball back for Elliott to hit the post.

It had been a rip-roaring first half, with Quakers coming more into the game as the half went on.

Macclesfield 1 Darlington 1

Quakers won a corner on the right at the start of the second half, but when the ball came into the middle, Main and then Hatfield had shots blocked, and the Maskell headed wide.

At the other end, Elliott caused confusion in the Darlington defence before he had a low effort saved by Jameson.

Main’s pace always caused problems up the left, and he slipped away and squared the ball for McGowan, who scuffed his shot wide from the edge of the area.

Quakers made a sub on 57 minutes, Tye Barton coming on for Forbes

There was a stoppage in play for Scott to receive treatment for a rib injury, then Hatfield and Allan both needed attention after they defended a Macclesfield corner.

Quakers then made another sub, Stanton coming on for Platt on 70 minutes as play became scrappy and lacking the flow of the first half.

Macc won a free kick outside the area or a foul, but Dawson curled the ball over the top.

After Main was pulled back 30 yards out, Quakers won a free kick that Hatfield curled over the wall but straight into the keeper’s hands.

Hatfield then pulled off excellent tackle in the centre circle to stop Macc breaking.

Charlie Lennon came on for Tom Allen on 81 minutes.

However, Macc had a good chance when Etaluku pulled the ball back for Mellor to sidefoot wide

But they broke through on 89 minutes, when Johnson got to the bye line and pulled the ball back for Mellor to fire home.

Lennon did his best to equalise when he cut in from the left and tried a right foot shot that went wide of the post

And in the sixth minute of stoppage time, a shot by Main was blocked and for Maskell, whose shot was pushed away or a corner.

When the corner came in Stanton’s header was saved by Dearnley.

Final score:

Macclesfield 2 Darlington 1

Team; Jameson, Hedley, Lees, Forbes (sub Barton 57), Scott (sub Rutledge 90)Platt (sub Stanton 70), Hatfield, McGowan, Allan (sub Lennon 81) Maskell, Main

Subs:  Maddison, Hopper, McGrath

Booking: Forbes 4 mins, foul, Platt 46 mins, foul

Macclesfield Dearnley, Fensome, Menayese, Buckley-Ricketts, Griffiths, Mellor, Elliott, Duffy, Lacey, Etaluku, Yarney

Subs: Nicholson, Dawson, Heathcote, Dos Santos, Johnson, Whitehead, Griffiths