The Silkmen were held to a 0-0 draw on the road at Spalding on Tuesday evening, remaining unbeaten so far in the 2026/27 season.
John Rooney made just one change to the side that snatched victory at the death against Radcliffe on Saturday afternoon at the Leasing.com Stadium, with Luis Lacey making his first start of the season, replacing Elliot Osborne from the off.
The evening also doubled as a debut for Macc’s brand new all white DNA away kit for the new campaign.
Similarly to Saturday, the match-up began in an end-to-end fashion, setting the tone for the duration of the evening with an early chance for Spadling front man Jack Roberts brought to a halt by a combination of Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Christian Dibble.
The Silkmen had two chances of their own down the other end a matter of moments later, with Luke Duffy and Jon Ustabasi each providing crosses towards Adan George in the middle, though neither were within a firm grasp of the number nine, looking to open his competitive account for Macc.
Lincoln McFayden picked up back from where he left off on Saturday with a number of dangerous low balls in to the box throughout the night, the first of which was gathered comfortably Peter Crook midway through the half.
It was just after this that the first break in play came with Luis Lacey requiring treatment for a nasty knee injury, which forced him off just after the 25th minute mark, and was replaced by Elliot Osborne.
Following the enforced change in personnel, the Silkmen began to dominate proceedings for the next period of the night, with George Wilson flashing a free-kick just wide of the upright before Fin Shrimpton saw an effort hit powerfully in to the ground tipped over by Crook as he attempted to replicate Radcliffe’s opener on Saturday.
Macc’s biggest chance of the half followed when Adan George and Jon Ustabasi charged in parallel towards the Spalding area before the former squared for the latter, though out of reach of Ustabasi who couldn’t make the ground up to meet the slightly overhit pass across.
Christian Dibble ensured he wouldn’t be embarrassed as a cross from the right began to loop towards his goal, which he tipped behind to spare any blushes from a tight angle.
Ustabasi was at the centre of the danger presented by the Silkmen throughout the first half with Shrimpton’s neat footwork almost concluding with a tap-in from the winger, though Spalding were able to clear before he could make a clean connection.
Two minutes were added at the end of the half, during which neither side could make the difference before the break with the scoreline as it was.
Substitute Osborne had the first real chance of the second half, stinging the palms of Crook, who was forced to push the powerful effort round the post before claiming the resulting corner.
Ammar Dyer and Luke Duffy each tried their luck moments later, though neither of whom could hit the target with their respective efforts, nor could Jon Ustabasi who again came close to finding an opener, though nodded over McFayden’s cross at the back post.
Duffy continued to trouble Crook between the Spalding posts with a low drive which swirled in and outside of the far post, eventually flying just beyond the woodwork to the relief of the goalkeeper, who evidently struggled to read the flight of the ball.
Rooney’s second change of the evening saw Danny Elliott take to the field with just over twenty minutes to go in place of Adan George, who despite his best efforts, wasn’t able to find a way through a firm standing Spalding back line.
Spalding substitute Bart Cybulski then had the hosts best chance of the half, found with half a yard of space via a cross from the left which he glanced narrowly wide of Dibble’s far post.
Former Fylde duo George Wilson and Jon Ustabasi linked up well once more with fifteen minutes to play, with Ustabasi dragging his left-footed attempt just wide of Crook’s far post.
A further break in play then ensued with just over ten minutes remaining following a clash of heads between a Spalding defender and goalkeeper Crook, who each needed a minute to get back to their feet having collided at a rate of knots.
Rooney made a third and final change as he handed Veron Parny his debut for the final ten minutes, taking the place of Ustabasi, who’d been a threat all night, but similarly to George, hadn’t managed to find a breakthrough.
Roberts continued to lead the line for Spalding late on, and was provided with his fair share of chances to nudge the hosts ahead, though scuppered two big opportunities late on to do so, missing the target on both occasions.
Connor Johnson came close to giving the newly promoted side a late lead, though saw his header from a corner prevented from nestling in the bottom corner by a well placed Luke Duffy, who hadn’t left his defensive position from the set piece at the front post to prevent Macc from going behind in the final five minutes.
Roberts did eventually manage to trouble Dibble, though rather unintentionally before the night was over, as the Silkmen’s number one tipped over another wayward cross to ensure it didn’t drop in behind him with just a few minutes to go.
Four minutes were added at the end of the evening, inside which neither side were able to make the difference and snatch a late winner, leaving both sides ruing missed chances, though somewhat satisfied with a hard-fought point under the lights.
Attendance: 922
MOTM: Cameron Borthwick-Jackson
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