The Silkmen picked up their first win in seven league games at Underhill today thanks to late goals from Francis Green and Nat Brown. Earlier Martin Gritton had marked his return to the side with the opening goal on 15 minutes, a goal cancelled out by Barnet's John O'Flynn on the hour mark. But despite being put under a lot of pressure it was the Silkmen who prevailed and extend their unbeaten run to three games.

Keith Alexander made just the one change to the starting line-up from last Saturday at Rochdale, with Martin Gritton replacing Ahmed Deen who switched the bench. Gritton partnered Simon Yeo up front, with Gareth Evans switching to a wide role.

With Silkmen kicking down the pronounced slope in the first half it was Yeo who had the first real chance of the game, with just ninety seconds on the clock. But Bees' keeper Lee Harrison comfortably saved in front of the new south stand at Underhill.

The early exchanges also saw Terry Dunfield find his way into referee Keith Hill's notebook for a foul on Michael Leary on four minutes. And moments later Bees' forward John o'Flynn thumped a twenty five yard shot onto the bar with Jon Brain well beaten.

It was the spur the Silkmen needed and as they had done the previous week at Spotland, gradually started to take the game to the home team.

And they should have taken the lead on 13 minutes when Gritton had a golden chance to mark his return to the side with his first goal since the Carling Cup tie against Blackpool in August.

Combining well with strike partner Simon Yeo, the big centre forward was put through on goal but screwed his shot horrible wide. But any disappointment was forgotten when Gritton made amends in spectacular fashion.

With the Blues pressing forward a good ball in from out wide looked to have presented Simon Yeo with a great chance to get on the scoresheet. But as he shaped to shoot, Townsend was able to get to the ball first and divert to the edge of the box.

The following up Gritton was quickest to react and swivelled and planted a lovely 12 yard volley into the net to put the Silkmen ahead. Growing in confidence the lead could have been doubled on twenty minutes when Gareth Evans fizzed a shot just wide.

With the home fans increasingly frustrated, a week after seeing their team heavily beaten by Notts County, the Silkmen were enjoying by far the better of possession. Any possession the Bees had was dealt with my Keith Alexander's men without any real danger to Jon Brain behind them.

And on 34 minutes Izak Reid created another golden chance for Gareth Evans. Breaking quickly from a Barnet corner, the youngster outpaced his marker, and put a great ball into the box. Evans somehow managed to miss his kick, the ball going through his legs when just six yards out with the keeper on the floor. It really did look easier to score.

Within minutes the Silkmen were almost made to pay, when Albert Adomah fired over after a bit of head tennis at the back. The only other action of note before half time was the yellow card issued to Barnet's Michael Townsend for a foul on Gritton.

Moments later the half time whistle blew, the Silkmen no doubt content with the deserved lead but conscious of how they had let a two goal lead slip at Underhill last season, and also by the fact they had had enough chances to have finished the game.

H/T Barnet 0 Macclesfield Town 1

Danny Thomas replaced Simon Yeo for the start of the second half, the forward having failed to shake off the knock he received in the lead up to the first goal.

And it was Thomas who created the first opportunity of the second half, his run resulting in a corner. But it was easily dealt with as the Silkmen seemed content to soak up what pressure the home side was able to exert.

Two chances in quick succession fell the home side's way on 55 minutes. First Birchall was not able to get his shot away after good covering work from Shaun Brisley and then probably with the best chance of the game for Barnet, O'Flynn could not get any power in his header which was well gathered by Jon Brain.

Two further corners in quick succession followed as the home side seemed to be enjoying playing with the slope. And they were rewarded on the hour mark with an equaliser when substitute Luke Medley whipped a great ball in from the right which caused panic in the backline.  O'Flynn was first to the ball, steering his header through the legs of Jon Brain.

Keith Alexander made an immediate substitute, Francis Green replacing the ineffective Gareth Evans. But still the home side pressed, growing visibly in confidence from the goal.

And the Silkmen had Shaun Brisley to thank when the young defender cleared a ball off the line after Bishop lifted his shot over the advancing Jon Brain. It was all one way traffic with the Silkmen goal leading a charmed life at times.

Lee Bell came on for a tiring Izak Reid with eighteen minutes left to play, Keith Alexander looking to regain the midfield battle that had been going the way of the home side since the restart.

And it was the influential substitute Luke Medley who came closest moments later but at full stretch could not get enough contact with the ball and saw his header go wide. Five minutes later the same player broke through apace and fired a good shot narrowly wide. Jon Brain was then forced into a brave save at the feet of an advancing Bishop.

And the 86 travelling fans in a crowd of 1579 were on their feet again to applaud Jon Brain who pulled off an even better save from Albert Adomah. It was a world class save that moments later was to prove so crucial.

A minute later the Silkmen got their noses back in front much against the run of play. Good work from Bell and Dunfield saw the ball fall at the feet of Francis Green who hit a sweet shot from twelve yards passed a stranded Lee Harrison in the Barnet goal.

It was the Silkmen's first shot of the second half but it matter not as the players raced to congratulate Greeny. And the icing on the cake came minutes later when Nat Brown got his second goal in Silkmen colours when his looping header just scraped under the bar. 3-1 may have flattered the Silkmen but a vital three points had been gained.