The Silkmen took another step closer to that final mark of mathmatical safety with a 2-1 win at Barnet.

It made it two wins in two for Gary Simpson's men and a second successive win in North London having also picked up three points at Underhill last season.

And the result took on greater importance with the news that all three of Grimsby, Torquay and Celtenham had won. But with the gap between the Silkmen and the Mariners still 12 points, Macc will be looking to take that final step to safety on Tuesday night when they entertain Burton Albion at the Moss Rose.

But it was far from a classic encounter in the early stages, the first half a very scrappy affair. The home side just about shaded the opening 45 with the Silkmen playing up the hill.

Their best chance of the half came when Micah Hyde found himself in on goal at a narrow angle but saw his shot clipping the far post and going out for a goal kick.

Shaun Brisley then looked like he had added to the Silkmen's injury list as he needed treatment for what appeared to be a groin injury in the Silkmen's penalty box and had to be replaced. The 5-3-2 formation was altered to a 4-4-2 as Rooney replaced him.

Both Leach and Hyde had further chances as the former headed over the bar before the latter's athletic bicycle kick was saved.

The Silkmen did go close before half time after Ben Wright met a cross from the left, but his attempted flicked shot was saved.

The second half was a better spectacle and the Blues started brightly winning two early corners before the visitors took the lead.

It was Emile Sinclair's second in two games as he raced on to a bouncing lob from Rooney and let the ball drop before lashing it past the keeper.

The game didn't really liven up after the goal with the most notable event being Lee Bell needing treatment after taking a hit in the head going for a high-ball. But the Silkmen were seemingly happy to defend the lead as Barnet pressed but failed to make any sort of inroad on the Macc defence.

The home side were trying to rally and saw a good cross from the left headed well over the bar as the game entered it's closing stages.

Anyone who decided to leave early missed the best spell of the match as the Silkmen doubled their lead. Lee Bell, who had run himself into the ground all day, charged down Cole in the Barnet goal and blocked his clearance. Reactinb fastest to the loose ball he poked it past the keeper to make it 2-0.

But the lead lasted only a few seconds as Upson scored almost straight from the kick off as he volleyed an unstoppable strike into the top corner from all of 25 yards.

It set up a sticky four minutes of injury time, but the Silkmen held firm to make it seven points from the last three matches.