Macclesfield FC earned their third consecutive victory after a 1-0 win against Basford United.
Inside 10 minutes, Luke Duffy came close to taking the lead for the Silkmen when his shot, from the edge of the area, went narrowly wide of the post.
In the 16th minute, D’Mani Mellor came close to appearing on the scoresheet when his shot was just off target, after a brilliant delivery from John Rooney.
The Basford United keeper, Saul Deeney, felt the pressure from the home side as after spilling the ball from Rooney’s cross, he quickly recovered before letting Danny Elliott poke the ball home.
Macclesfield took the lead on the half-an-hour mark when Elliott found Duffy in a bit of space before the 25-year-old guided his shot in the net to break the deadlock.
The second half of the 90 saw Robbie Savage’s men come very close to increasing their lead as Mellor was denied with a good save from Deeney in the 47th minute.
Two minutes later, Elliott almost earned a two-goal cushion for the Silkmen when his shot hit the post.
In the 64th minute, Elliott tested the goalkeeper once more as he forced a save from Deeney, before Mellor bizarrely missed his chance off target from around 10 yards on the rebound.
With less than 20 minutes left to play, Elliott came close to adding another goal to his tally for the season as he fired a shot across the six-yard box which could not be converted.
Despite a surprise of not scoring more than one goal, the team in blue won in convincing fashion as they claim their 13th clean sheet in the league this season.
Macclesfield still have their 16-point gap above second-placed Guiseley, along with an incredible goal difference of 46.
The Silkmen will travel to North East England where they will contest against Hebburn Town who sit seventh in the Northern Premier League.
By Charlie Oxtoby
