There was just one change from the side that beat Chester so convincingly over the Bank Holiday period, Anthony Pilkington replaced the suspended Liam Dickinson up front.

Jason Taylor reverted to left midfield and Michael Raynes came into the middle.

There was a place on the bench for young Michael Bowler and Adam Le Fondre who had recovered from tonsillitis.

Macclesfield included fromer County man, Jordan Hadfield in their side.

County came out firing on all cylinders and they thought they had an early penalty when Anthony Elding was brought down by Tommy Lee after rounding the 'keeper. However, the referee waved away the protests.

Anthony Pilkington tried a drive, similar to the one that brought the goal on Monday, but the Macc keeper was equal to it.

Elding and Pilkington linked up well moments later, when Anthony Elding made a run down the right wing and found the young striker rising at the far post. Pilk's header went high and wide.

Elding was at the receiving end of a Jason Taylor cross on the 14th minute mark, bringing a similar result as before. Make no mistake though, County were creating some great opportunities.

GOAL! It was Macclesfield who were ahead, though, when John Murphy got in at the far post to head home from a McIntyre corner ball.

Moments later County went desperately close again, when an unmarked Anthony Elding got on the end of a deep Taylor cross, but his effort floated agonisingly wide.

It took a safe pair of hands from Joe Lewis to deny John Murphy a second when he was played into the box by the impressive Holgate.

Macclesfield went close again with Matty McNeil starting and finishing the run. He won the ball on the edge of the area and fed it out to McIntyre. The former Chester man put  a delightful cross into the box, that McNeil headed just over.

Joe Lewis started to show his calibre when he pulled off a wonderful point range save to deny the tricky stalwart, Martin Bullock.

Murphy wnet desperately close eight minutes before the end of the first half, when he was played into the box, but his effort went just wide.

Gannon shook things up bringing on Adam Le Fondre for the injured Rob Clare and almost had an impact when he won a free kick on the edge of the area. The resulting free kick  came to little fruition however.

Michael Raynes went agonisingly close moments later with his low drive from the edge of the area floated just wide of the post.

Meanwhile Lewis was keeping his new side in this one. A fantastic reaction save to deny McNeil from a low left wing shot ensured County's deficit was just the one goal.

Second Half

Hadfield almost grabbed a second when his low shot went just wide of the far post, moments after the restart.

County created a couple of good chances, but it was all Macclesfield. Martin Bullock was still causing chaos on the left wing, and it was his cross into the box that nearly brought another goal for Macc. Lewis was again on hand for damage limitation.

Kevin McIntyre's deep cross met the head of Murphy moments later, but the former County target headed over the bar.

McNeil went close again with his first time volley from inside the area, but again it went wide. Lewis looked to have it covered, however.

At the other end County looked to be getting tired and frustrated as they continually lost possession and failed to give Lee any real difficulty.

GOAL! Macclesfield got the goal that they deserved when  John Miles made a run into the box, cut inside Adam Griffin, and hit a wicked curling shot that Lewis could do nothing about.

Adam Murray's rasping shot from 18 yards out, took a good save from Lewis to deny the Silkimen a third, as the Macc fans smelt survival.

The best chance of a rather drab second half performance came from the foot of Adam Le Fondre. Alfy's 20-yard shot was tipped over the bar by Lee.

Devoid of ideas the Hatters simply could not break down a resolute Macclesfield side.