Two goals in the last eight minutes gave Macclesfield a huge three points in their survival bid and denied Paul Simpson a victory in his first game in charge of the Shrews.

Substitute Dave Hibbert had put the visitors ahead before Jamie Tolley struck against his former side and Francis Green curled home a sensational winner with five minutes left on the clock.

The Silkmen kicked off with an attacking 4-3-3 formation, looking for a first home victory in 11 games against a Shrewsbury side winless in nine.  Something had to give.

There were some familiar faces in both line-ups - Kevin McIntyre starting on the visitors' left and Tolley in the Macc midfield with Neil Ashton and Michael Symes unable to play.

In the third minute Marc Pugh forced Jonathon Brain into early action after he skinned Shaun Brisley and Richard Walker down the right and moments later McIntyre's cross shot clipped the top of the bar on its way out.

Macc broke through Danny Thomas after a neat one-two with Gareth Evans, but his cross was too strong for Green at the back post.

Asa Hall was allowed far too much space to scuff a 20 yard left footed effort wide and at the other end Tolley mis-hit a volley from 12 yards after Ryan Cresswell's shot fell for him in the box.

Ben Davies squandered a decent chance for the Shrews on 24 minutes when he was played through and as he took his shot on early it was again dragged horribly wide as it looked like neither side could hit the target.

In the 27^th minute Gareth Evans chased a precise ball threaded through the middle and Marc Tierney slid in and looked to make no contact with the ball as he tripped the striker.  However, referee Swarbrick deemed there to be nothing wrong with the challenge and waved play on.

Evans cut in from the left to shoot straight at keeper Glynn Garner and Macc looked a little uneasy at times at the back, conceding two unnecessary corners which were both wasted.

Marc Pugh was having an impressive half and when he cut in from the right and went over in the box under pressure from James Jennings the home crowd must have feared the worst.  To their relief though the referee called Pugh over and booked him for diving.

Two minutes of time added on came and went at the end of the first period and the sides went in deservedly level after neither keeper had really been tested.

Pugh remained in the action and almost created a goal from nothing for his side when he skipped past Thomas and whipped in a brilliant cross which was narrowly missed the two attackers in the box and was claimed by Brain diving out.

Jonathon Brain - Was in top form again and made two quality stops

Hibbert was well found on the left and although Cresswell got back to challenge the ex-Preston man, the ball was only half cleared and after a few panicky seconds at the back Hall's effort was deflected through to Brain.  It was Cresswell who came off worse in the initial challenge and the on-loan centre-back was forced off on the hour with Izak Reid replacing him.  Martin Gritton also came on for James Jennings as Keith Alexander looked to push on for the win.

Brain made a sensational stop to deny Pugh after he stole a yard on Brisley and as his powerful shot looked destined to fly in at the near post, Brain flew to his left to make a fingertip save around the post.

Shrewsbury weren't to be denied though and broke the deadlock on 64 minutes when Pugh's ball found Hibbert and when Sean Hessey failed to cut out the pass Hibbert blasted past Brain at his near post from 15 yards.

After going a goal down things were looking grim for the Silkmen as they rarely troubled the away defence and struggled to get a grip on the game.  Walker was booked for a crude foul on Pugh just outside the box and Brain was on form again to stop Ben Davies's long range free kick.

Young Everton forward Scott Spencer's jinking run troubled the Shrewsbury backline and when he was eventually tackled the ball fell to Gritton.  He fed Tolley in the centre and after letting the ball drop he hit a sweetly struck first time effort which arrowed into the corner, well out of Garner's reach.

Jamie Tolley - Will be delighted to have scored a wonderful goal against his former side

The goal gave Macc a tremendous lift and all of a sudden they were going all out for the win.Izak Reid whipped in a dangerous ball to the near post and with Green and Gritton sliding in the ball was somehow smuggled clear.

A dramatic turnaround was completed with five minutes to go through a breathtaking 10^th strike of the season from Francis Green.  The striker picked up a long ball on the corner of the box and after shrugging off Jones's challenge he turned goalwards and perfectly curled a fantastic left footed strike in the top corner.

As celebrations died down there were still a few minutes left on the clock and the Silkmen faithful were biting their nails when Langmead powered a header over the bar from a long throw into the box.

Four minutes were shown on the board and despite a long stoppage for a Shrewsbury injury there was just about time for McIntyre to almost cruelly equalise at the death.  Fortunately his left footed volley from 15 yards skewed wide and the final whistle went to huge cheers.

It was to be a massive result as news filtered through that the bottom two had also both won and the victory takes Macc above Notts County.  With teams above losing it doesn't look like a three horse race anymore and for the first time this season back to back wins have been achieved - roll on County on Friday!

Andy Brinkhurst