Ten-man Silkmen were forced to settle for a point in a 1-1 draw away at Spennymoor Town in the Enterprise National League North on Saturday afternoon.
Fin Shrimpton’s goal just beyond the half-hour saw the Silkmen lead before Danny Johnson’s penalty late in the second-half drew Spennymoor level, with Cameron Borthwick-Jackson sent off for Macc on a windy afternoon at The Brewery Field.
Manager John Rooney named Borthwick-Jackson in the starting line-up in place of Tom Wilson, who starts his three-match suspension after the game in County Durham, whilst Luke Matheson was on the bench.
The Silkmen started on the attack immediately, with positive build-up play creating an opportunity for Ammar Dyer within three minutes, who cut inside on his right foot and curled an effort wide.
Spennymoor then had an opening of their own on 11 minutes. Junior Mondal floated a cross into the box from the right, but an unbalanced Cameron Salkeld headed over Christian Dibble’s crossbar at the back post.
Two minutes later, captain Paul Dawson received possession before his strike on the turn from distance went off target.
The Silkmen went close after Luke Duffy’s corner was met by Adan George at the front post, with the striker flicking the ball towards goal, as defender Sam Murray cleared off the line.
Dibble was then called into action after Spennymoor were awarded a free-kick following Sam Heathcote’s foul on the edge of the box. The resulting set-piece, taken by Matthew Dolan, went over the defensive wall and into the gloves of the Silkmen goalkeeper.
Midway through the half, Dawson’s ball over the top of the Spennymoor defence found Elliot Osborne, who saw his header blocked for a corner by Murray’s clearance.
The Silkmen led on 32 minutes when Dawson pounced on a loose ball to thread through Shrimpton, with Macc’s number 14 controlling the pass well to strike a low effort with his right foot, beating home stopper Jake Oram and sending Rooney’s men in front.
The Silkmen threatened in their pursuit of a second goal six minutes later after Dawson and Dyer combined on the right for Dyer to aim an enticing cross into the box looking for George; however, the Moors defence were able to clear to safety.
Spennymoor had the ball in the back of the net in first-half added time through Salkeld, who was flagged offside.
Ahead of the second-half, Rooney made his first switch of the contest, as Heathcote was replaced by Tom Wilson.
The Silkmen survived a scare five minutes into the half after Dolan shot narrowly past Dibble’s right-post from inside the box.
At the other end, Shrimpton won back possession and moved play onto George, who crossed for Duffy to poke wide.
On the hour, Dibble made an excellent reaction save to keep Macc in front after turning Richie Bennett’s header past the post from Dolan’s corner.
Danny Elliott then came off the bench with 20 minutes left for Dawson to partner George up front.
Shrimpton, buoyed by his goal in the first-half, tested Oram with a driven shot which the goalkeeper stopped on the line, with Dan Jones in position to clear.
Spennymoor were awarded a penalty on 79 minutes as Borthwick-Jackson was sent off for a second bookable offence. Johnson stepped up and powered the spot-kick past Dibble into the left-hand side of the net.
The Silkmen almost responded in the perfect way in the final six minutes when George Wilson drove forward on a quick breakaway, before striking an effort narrowly wide of the left-post.
Matheson then replaced forward George to make his first appearance of the season after returning from injury.
In the closing stages, Dibble had to tip Mondal’s free-kick behind for a corner as the Silkmen navigated three minutes of added time to gain a point on the road.
The Silkmen return to the North East next Saturday for an Emirates FA Cup second qualifying round away at Redcar Athletic, kick-off 3 pm.
Attendance: 1,180
MOTM: Fin Shrimpton
Sponsored by Bollington Dental Practice
Report by Ben Reardon
