The Silkmen returned from a wet West Yorkshire empty handed tonight, on the wrong end of a 1-0 scoreline.

A dour game, in which Macc rarely threatened, was settled on the hour mark by on-loan midfielder Dean Furman who coolly finished after a neat interplay with Michael Boulding.

Keith Alexander unsurprisingly opted to start with the same XI who had done so well against Shrewsbury at the weekend, lining up in a 5-3-2 formation, with Simon Yeo playing on the left of the midfield three.

Whilst the earlier rain of the afternoon had abated, a slippery surface and swirling wind made for difficult conditions. The first chance of the game fell to the home side after good work from Steve Jones. Cutting the ball back, Shaun Brisley did well to block the resultant shot.

Gareth Evans tested Rhys Evans on eight minutes, beating his man out wide but with little purchase behind his shot the keeper was able to save without any real trouble. It proved to be the Silkmen's only shot on target in the first period, one in which they struggled to keep hold of the ball.

What invention there was came from the home side who spurred on by a crowd of 11908 were looking to bounce back after Saturday's defeat to Notts County. With Nicky Law and Dean Furman increasingly influential, the former broke clear on 16 minutes and tried his luck from twenty five yards but saw his shot fly well over the bar.

Furman was the first in the referee's notebook on twenty minutes, pulling back Simon Yeo crudely just shy of the halfway line. Rather than aim long with the free kick, the ball was played out to Gareth Evans who found Jordan Hadfield. The midfielder played a neat ball through to Yeo but the move was cut short by a harsh looking offside decision.

Good work again from Law, saw the midfielder beat Sean Hessey out wide and deliver a dangerous looking ball into the box. Michael Boulding rose highest but his header lacked any real strength and was comfortably saved by Brain.

Matty Flynn became the second to see yellow for a tackle on Steve Jones. From the resultant free kick the ball was played out wide to Nicky Law, who with a neat turn of pace was able to beat three Silkmen defenders before advancing into the box. Having cut the ball back he shared the crowd's frustration as Graeme Lee put his shot narrowly wide on the right hand post.

With five minutes of the first half remaining Nicky Law rattled the bar from fully thirty yards. It was the last real action of note, Keith Alexander probably the more pleased of the two managers as the teams headed into the dressing room at half-time.

H/T Bradford City 0 Macclesfield Town 0

With no changes made at the break it was a case of more of the same in the second period, with the Silkmen seemingly intent to soak up the pressure. Whilst it may not have been pretty to watch it was certainly proving effective as the crowd's frustration started to build.

City's best chance of the opening fifteen minutes came from Lee who tried his luck from fully forty yards direct from a free kick.

The decisive moment came on the hour mark and whilst the goal was well taken in the end, Keith Alexander will no doubt have been disappointed at the room afforded to goalscorer Dean Furman.

The midfielder was allowed to advance unchallenged from just past the halfway line. His ball found Michael Boulding on the edge of the box. With two or three Silkmen defenders converging on the forward, he slipped a neat ball to the advancing Furman who from ten yards out had the time and composure to place the ball low to the right of Jon Brain.

With their confidence lifted the Bantams enjoyed their best spell of pressure as the midfield three of Macclesfield struggled to get into the game. The Silkmen's best chances fell to Lee Bell who fizzed in a low free kick on 67 minutes, well saved by Evans.

The keeper was again up to the task eight minutes later when Bell again tried his luck after a corner had been cleared. With probably more time than he imagined the midfielder opted for placement rather than power, curling a shot in from twenty five yards. After spilling the shot, Evans was able to react quickest to gather the loose ball and the danger had been averted.

By this time Richard Walker had been replaced by Kyle Fraser-Allen, the Silkmen reverting to a 4-4-2 formation. Danny Thomas was also on for Simon Yeo.

Jon Brain was forced into action, saving well with his feet with just over ten minutes left. Shortly afterwards Keith Alexander made the last of his three substitutions, Sean Hessey being replaced by Izak Reid.

But despite the changes, the Silkmen never once looked like getting back into the game. The home side did have the ball in the back of the net moments before the end of the game but the goal was ruled out for a foul by Barry Conlon.

After playing so well against Shrewsbury the Silkmen were never really at the races tonight and need to lift themselves for the long trip north to Darlington on Saturday.