Macclesfield battled out a goalless draw with fellow strugglers Mansfield at the Moss Rose this afternoon, ensuring their cushion above the relegation trap door remains at seven points with just three games to go.

Neither of the keepers had much to do and while Mansfield saw more of the ball, they rarely threatened the home defence and remain in a perilous position in the bottom two.

Keith Alexander named an unchanged line-up for the fourth consecutive match, with Wayne Rooney in the stands to cast an eye over his brother John who sat on the Macc bench.

In the sixth minute Neil Ashton's long throw was flicked on by Shaun Brisley at the near post and Francis Green's hook goalwards across the box drifted wide.

The imposing figure of Jefferson Louis troubled the home defence from the first whistle and after he nutmegged Richard Walker and crossed from the right Michael Boulding couldn't jump high enough to connect.

Green was found by Terry Dunfield on the left and his ball across picked out Gareth Evans who could only tamely head at keeper Jason White from six yards out.

Gareth Evans - Gave his all as usual but should have hit the net with a first half header

In terms of possession Mansfield were certainly on top during the opening quarter, however they lacked ideas in the final third and heavily relied on the strength of Louis to hold the ball up.

Evans flashed a half volley wide after a free kick was floated into the box and after half an hour Jamie Tolley was forced off with a hip injury, with James Jennings replacing the ex-Shrewsbury man in midfield.

Jamie Tolley - Scored a cracker at Wrexham, although had to be taken off early on due to injury

A smart pass from Dunfield gave Danny Thomas possession in a dangerous area on the left and after a few stepovers he swung in a deep cross which was lashed into the side netting by Dunfield arriving late at the back post.

Macc struggled to create too many clear-cut opportunities, with much of their best approach play coming from the left flank.In another foray down that wing involving Dunfield and Green, Ashton skipped inside his man and cut the ball back for Evans to smash over.

Into the second period the visitors remained the dominant force, with Macc seemingly looking to snatch the points on the break.Green was picked out by an angled ball forward and after fortuitously beating his man his stinging drive from the corner of the box was well held by White.

Matthew Hamshaw waltzed through three challenges in the area in a sensational 57^th minute run and finished by poking an effort goalwards which had Jonathon Brain rooted to the spot and went inches wide of the far post.

Despite having a relatively quiet afternoon, with the visitors desperate for a victory it was surprising to see 22-goal Michael Bouldling taken off just after the hour for Neil Wainwright.

A tremendous block by Jennings denied Nathan Arnold after he controlled Wainwright's cross and looked to hammer home before Jennings flung himself at the ball to divert it clear.

The pace of Thomas took him past two men down the Macc left before he was crudely taken down by John Mullins who was booked for the foul.The free kick was whipped into the box by Ashton but came to nothing.

With around 15 minutes to go the Silkmen became more withdrawn, content with a point and although Mansfield could have done with more, they failed to impose the same threat they had during periods of the first half.

Arnold wasted a great chance to cross from the by-line on the right and Hamshaw's curling free kick was floated too high for everyone in the box as the visitors searched for a winner.

With two minutes to go Mansfield thought they had notched that crucial goal but Louis was ruled offside as he controlled a chip over the top and crashed the ball inside Brain's near post.

The Stags fans bayed for a winner as four minutes of injury time were signalled, but the final push never came and Macc were undoubtedly happy with a point which pushes them ever closer to safety.

Andy Brinkhurst