The Silkmen were 1-0 winners at Darlington in a game which should have been dead and buried at half time, but could easily have gone the other way after the break.

The match kicked off in a swirling wind which made it difficult to read the play, with about 50 hardy Macclesfield supporters looking on.

Lee Bell looked for his shooting boots early, but saw his first-minute shot blocked before Nat Brown cleared a spell of Darlington pressure.

The Silkmen won the first corner of the game and it was cleared as far as Colin Daniel, but his 30 yard strike went harmlessly wide before a good move from Reid and Daniel found Ben Wright on the penalty spot, but his left footed shot went over the bar.

The home side won a free kick when Gall was fouled by Nat Brown, it was taken quickly, but was straight down Jon Brain's throat.

The Silkmen then took the lead. Racing on to a ball from John Rooney, the winger beat his man put the ball across the area looking for a blue shirt, former Silkman Jeff Smith had to get a touch on the ball with pressure from Emile Sinclair, and could only put through his own net.

Izak Reid had done well to defend a dangerous cross, which was cleared down field. Ben Wright flicked the ball on and was inches away from finishing a one-two as he headed John Rooney's cross back across the face of goal but it snuck past the far post.

The Silkmen then won a corner when Smith headed the ball behind for a corner from another Rooney cross. Lee Bell took it towards Bolland, but he hit his shot over the bar.

Rooney was running things from the middle and his ball sent Daniel away, and he won a corner. Lee Bell's kick caused chaos in the box, with both Nat Brown and Hamza having chances to score, but it was cleared and Darlington broke to win their first corner of the game when it should have been 2-0. A foul on Tremarco helped the Silkmen clear that danger.

The home side should have levelled shortly afterwards as James Bennett somehow contrived to head into the side netting from two yards from Devitt's cross.

Another golden opportunity for the Silkmen came and went as a great cross to Ben Wright was knocked on to John Rooney, but he managed to hit wide with the goal at his mercy.

Nat Brown and Carl Tremarco were doing well at the back dealing with the home side's crosses into the box, but another great chance was wasted when Rooney looked to pass when he had room to shoot.

The fourth official showed two minutes of injury time in a half which the Blues should have had the three points in the bag.

The home side won a corner in injury time, but Jon Brain took the cross well. But the home side continued to press and won a second corner, this was half cleared by Bencherif, but the follow-up shot was wide of the post.

Half Time

The Silkmen began the second half as they had done in the first and attacked the Darlington goal. Ben Wright and John Rooney both going close in the opening minutes.

The home side went very close as Curtis Main hit the ball over the bar after coming off the bench at half-time.

Groves should then have levelled the game as he headed over from a few yards out from Jeff Smith's cross. The home side then made their final two changes as they searched for something from the game.

The second half was a much more even affair, but the Silkmen were still looking to increase their lead. But with Darlington getting more into the game, the home side won a free kick which was played straight to Jon Brain.

Jon Brain was then relieved to see a ball across the face of goal run out for a goal-kick just before Ricky Sappleton came off the bench to replace Ben Wright.

A Darlington free-kick, 30 yards from goal, saw another let-off for the Silkmen as Curtis Main headed the ball onto the post, and Lee Bell cleared for a corner, but the danger was cleared when Convery handballed. The Silkmen were living dangerously after such a dominant first half.

Young Michael Thomas came off the bench to make his second appearance for the Silkmen to replace John Rooney.

With both sides probing, the Silkmen continued to defend with Tremarco making a great challenge from Gall, Bencherif blocked a shot from the free-ball, and Foster shot wide from two yards.

The Silkmen's third substitution saw Shaun Brisley replacing Emile Sinclair as Keith looked to shore up at the back and move to a five-at-the-back formation.

Junior Daniel eased the pressure on the Silkmen a little as he advanced on goal, but shot over the bar when a pass to Sappleton might have been the better option.

Four minutes of added time was shown by the fourth official.

The Silkmen should have sealed the points as Sappleton beat Holt to a ball, and knocked it past him, but could only find the post and at the other end, Foster headed the ball wide from a good position.

The home side won a controversial free kick, as Kevin Gall fell over, to give Darlington a last chance with a 30 yard free kick. Darlo 'keeper Russel Hoult was up in the box but the final whistle was blown to give the Silkmen the first win on the road this season.