Richard Butcher's 25 yard rocket denied Keith Alexander a win in his first game in charge after Izak Reid had put Macclesfield ahead in the first half.

Butcher struck in the 71st minute to grab a point for his side, although the draw will do little for the survival hopes of either side.

Alexander handed youngster Shaun Brisley his debut in defence with Luke Dimech recalled to the side and Jamie Tolley given the captain's armband.

A first home win in ten games was called for, although things looked bleak for the Silkmen early on as they struggled to get to grips with the 3-4-3 formation and at times looked overrun in midfield.

Danny Crow blasted a 30 yard free kick into the wall and Myles Weston's left wing cross had Jonathon Brain scrambling as it dropped inches wide of the far post.

On 15 minutes Crow's clever ball inside the Macc defence sent Ryan Jarvis away on the right and with two men unmarked in the centre Dimech's interception was crucial.

Ryan Cresswell was booked for a crude challenge on Jarvis by the corner flag as Notts pressed forward looking to turn their early dominance into a lead while Macc created little.

Jarvis finished a good move with a tame header before the Silkmen went ahead courtesy of their firstmeaningful effort on goal.

Neil Ashton's strong run down the left found Evans at the near post and despite a poor first touch he managed to dink a cross back in which was met by Izak Reid to sidefoot home from six yards.

Mike Edwards should have immediately equalised for the Magpies when he headed Adam Tann's cross over from close range and Brain made a terrific save to deny Paul Mayo after he was found looking suspiciously offside following a chip forward from midfield.

The Silkmen grew in confidence as the half progressed, however the majority of the chances were in Brain's goalmouth.

Jarvis squandered another opportunity to level the scores on 37 minutes - he failed to get proper contact on his header from Gibb's cross and although it was on target Dimech was able to nod away.

At the other end Evans managed to squeeze a cross in from the left and after collecting at the back post Tolley needed too much time to bring the ball under control and the chance went begging.

Tolley's free kick early in the second period flew under the Notts wall and forced a smart stop from Russell Hoult.

A golden chance to equalise was wasted by Edwards when a cross was nodded into his path and from only a matter of yards out he poked straight at Brain when an effort either side of him would have hit the net.

Brisley couldn't climb high enough to control his back post header from Tolley's corner after Hoult came and missed his punch, while Jason Lee and ex-Silkman Neil Mackenzie came on for the visitors.

The leveller came with just under 20 minutes left on the clock when Butcher collected a loose ball on the left and from 25 yards smashed a volley into the top corner, leaving Brain rooted to the spot.

For the next few minutes it looked as if Notts were to go on to win the game as they pressed forward and Macc reverted to last ditch defending to hold on.

Paul Mayo was allowed to run 50 yards with the ball as the visitors broke, he found Jarvis and after he laid the ball off Crow's effort from the edge of the area was desperately blocked by a Macc body.

The Silkmen regained some momentum for the final ten minutes and a good James Jennings corner was whipped into the danger area but there was nobody on hand to finish it off.

New signing Fola Onibuje came on for the last eight minutes and although he had a few runs into the box down the right he struggled for any end product.

The final whistle sounded on the game which was a must-win for both sides, but won by neither.  With 25 draws between them it was always a likely outcome, but with the bottom two also grinding out a draw a big chance went begging to win some breathing space above the dreaded line.

Andy Brinkhurst