Cheltenham came from behind to inflict Macclesfield's fifth successive league defeat and climb to the top of League Two.
Debutant Marcus Marshall had given the Silkmen a first half lead but goals from Sido Jombati and Jeff Goulding either side of the break earned the Robins the points before Luke Carbutt's deflected free kick made it three in stoppage time.
With his squad ravaged by injuries and suspensions Gary Simpson made three changes to his side which lost late on against AFC Wimbledon midweek.Scott Kay returned to the side with Tony Diagne dropping to defence to fill in for Paul Morgan, Colin Daniel came in for Dwaine Mattis and Marshall was given a debut after signing on-loan from Rotherham.
The visitors had the majority of early possession and territory but neither side made any inroads in the opening quarter of an hour until Garbutt's free kick forced Jose Veiga into a tremendous save to palm his near post effort around the post after Arnaud Mendy had brought down Kaid Mohamed.
Macc's first chance came on 21 minutes when a clever pass by Matthew Hamshaw found Marshall who cut in from the right flank onto his left foot and after taking possibly one touch too many his effort was deflected over the bar.
After a slow start the Silkmen started to come into the contest, with Marshall in particular looking to take the game to Cheltenham not afraid to dribble his way forward. Following a strong run from the loanee, Hamshaw took over to cross from the left and Ben Mills glanced a header over at the front post.
Marlon Pack blasted high and wide after getting into a dangerous position beating Mendy along the way before the Silkmen came within inches of breaking the deadlock at the other end.
Hamshaw intercepted a pass in midfield and slipped the ball into Daniel's path overlapping down the right who cut onto his left foot and smashed a blistering effort which had the keeper beaten but flashed inches wide of the far post.
Macc didn't have to wait much longer for the goal to come though, with Veiga's quick kick out controlled by Daniel who fed Hamshaw on the right to curl in a low teasing ball which was slid home at the far post by Marshall. Keeper Scott Brown managed to scramble across his line and block the effort but the ball had already gone over the line.
Cheltenham looked to hit back with Mohamed's deflected drive easily held by Veiga before Goulding's back-heel set up Summerfield in the area and Shaun Brisley had to bravely dive in to block the shot, sending the ball ballooning over for a corner.
From the set piece they drew level as Veiga didn't manage to clear the danger and after the initial header was blocked on the line, Jombati was able to prod the loose ball into the roof of the net from close range.
Just seconds after half time Mills nodded Marshall's right wing cross wide but the Robins then looked the more threatening, with the speedy Jermaine McGlashan causing trouble whenever he had the ball at his feet.
After another tricky run from the winger, making his first start for the Robins since signing from Aldershot, he went down in the box under Carl Tremarco's challenge with just a corner given despite strong protests from the visitors wanting more.
On the hour a looping ball into the box was half cleared by Kay out to Mohamed who took a touch before smashing just wide from the penalty spot.
In the 62nd minute another great run by McGlashan gave him space to put in a deep cross which was nodded down by Goulding into Luke Summerfield's path and Veiga did well to block his effort.
Cheltenham took the lead five minutes later when a long free kick dropped to Goulding just outside the box with the striker setting himself before rifling a fantastic low drive past Veiga and into the bottom corner.
The Silkmen almost responded immediately when Marshall's ball in from the right was flicked on by Brisley to Hamshaw at the far post who just couldn't get himself in the right position to finish it off.
In the 73rd minute Daniel whipped an inswinging cross to the far post from a short corner and Brisley wasn't able to get there to meet it but took a knock for his troubles.
Jombati hit a speculative effort just wide of the post on 77 minutes before keeper Brown saved his side with a tremendous stop to push Mills' header wide of the post when he connected with Tremarco's inch perfect ball in from the left.
As Macc pressed men forwards the away side had a chance to seal the victory with a three against two break but Mohamed ignored his team mates either side and instead went for goal himself, slicing horribly wide.
The third goal came in the final minute of three added on following a dubious free kick given to the visitors after it looked like Veiga had been fouled himself just seconds earlier. Carbutt stepped up and hit the set piece from 25 yards which took a heavy deflection off Marshall on the end of the wall, wrong-footing Veiga and finding the corner to wrap up the win to send the Robins to the summit of League Two.
Andy Brinkhurst
