The Silkmen made there first visit to the New Gay Meadow on Saturday hoping to build on their three game unbeaten run. But hopes were dashed as they came up short after disappointing 2-0 defeat.

In came Jonathon Brain replacing Tommy Lee. Brain was making his first league outing of the season.

It was the home side which made the brighter start keeping the ball and passing round the pitch and won their first corner after 6 minutes. The kick was whipped in and cleared off the line by Adam Murray only for the ball to be played back into the area and out came Brain to punch the ball clear. Shrewsbury keep up the early pressure and won a free kick just outside the box, the ball was aimed towards the back post and was headed back across the goal finding Colin Murdock who header was well saved by Brain.

The Silkmen's first attack of the game came after 15 minutes when a long ball over the top by Adam Murray was chased down by Francis Green who out ran his marker but wasn't able to beat the rushing out Glynn Garner in the Shrewsbury goal. The Silkmen started to slowly get into the game and started to pass and move the ball around.

The home side won themselves a free kick which was whipped in again towards the back post and headed back into the middle and was met by Dave Hibbert but his shot was well saved by Brain. The keeper was again called in to make a another good save when Stewart Drummond on the edge of the box tried an overhead kick which dipped at the last minute and Brain was quick to collect the ball just under the cross bar.

Shrewsbury won another free kick which was again played towards the back post and headed back, finding an unmarked Dave Hibbert. However instead of firing the ball home looked he passed the ball back into the grateful arms of Brain. It had looked like the home side have been working on their set pieces.

Macclesfield had a good chance to take the lead when they won a free kick on the edge of the box, the ball was crossed in by Adam Murray but for some reason no Silkmen player attacked the ball and it was left to Colin Murdock to clear the danger.

Shrewsbury did however take the lead just after the half hour mark when after a good move down the right the ball was crossed in by Dave Hunt and was met by Stewart Drummond. His header, which looked to have taken a deflection off a Macclesfield player found its way into the net. 1-0.

The goal unsettled the Silkmen's defence and for several minutes they looked vulnerable to conceding a second. They did however nearly get back on terms when a good ball from Kevin McIntyre found Danny Thomas who ran down the left wing beating the full back but his cross was to strong and went over the head of Gareth Evans and cleared away. A minute later the Silkmen Francis Green put another ball in from the left but Adam Murray and Gareth Evans both went for the ball seeming to get in each others way allowing the ball to be cleared.

Into the second half and the Silkmen had the first attack via a great run by Levi Reid on the right, his cross was tipped away by Glynn Garner. The Silkmen kept up the pressure and a few minutes later again a run down the wing, this time the left by Danny Thomas, led to a cross which looked like Evans would meet but was cleared just in time by the home side.

The home side started getting on top of the game and played some nice neat football and won themselves a free kick 25 yards. The kick was taken by Ben Davies but was well blocked by Murray but not cleared and we gave away another silly free kick in the same place. Thankfully Ben Davies's shot was straight at Jonathon Brain. The Silkmen had their first sub on the hour mark when Martin Gritton came on replacing Gareth Evans.

The home side doubled their lead and all but ended the game as a contest when the referee awarded a free kick against Adam Murray when it looked more like the Shrewsbury midfielder fell over himself. It was left to Ben Davies to cross the ball in. The ball was headed away by Martin Gritton only to find David Hunt on the edge of the box who then on the half volley hit the ball though a crowed box and into the bottom corner leaving Brain stranded. 2-0

Ian Brightwell made a double sub straight after the goal with Levi Reid and former Shrewsbury player Jamie Tolley leaving the field with Simon Wiles and Terry Dunfield taking their places.

Martin Gritton picked the ball up just inside his own half and he ran and ran to the edge of the box where he laid the ball off to Francis Green but instead of shooting he passed it wide to Simon Wiles whose cross was easy for Glynn Garner. The Silkmen won a free kick about 25 yards out which was whipped in by Kevin McIntyre but was again easy for Garner to collect. That was the fourth free kick which the Silkmen had had and which all led to the same outcome.

More quick moving of the ball from left to right almost give the home side a third when Ben Herd's cross was met by an unmarked Danny Hall who hit the ball first time just wide of the upright, when he perhaps room and time to control the ball and score. That proved to be the last real action of the day as not long after the final whistle blew.

Dean Bamford