The Silkmen overcame a poor start to earn a 2-2 draw in tonight's pre-season friendly with local rivals Stockport County.

With former Macclesfield stars, Matty McNeil and Jim McNulty in the Hatters' starting line up, the game began in bright sunshine. And it was the visitors who shone in the early stages, Paul Morgan forced to clear after good work from McNulty and Tommy Rowe.

But with fifteen minutes on the clock the Silkmen once again showed their fallibility from set pieces, new signing Carl Baker getting to Rowe's in swinging free-kick to glance the ball past a stranded Jon Brain.

The Silkmen's best chance came when a careless ball from Dominic Blizzard allowed us to advance up field but when the ball came in from the right Danny Thomas' first touch eluded him and the County defence were able to clear.

Macclesfield were made to pay three minutes later when Anthony Pilkington carried the ball 50 yards before playing it wide to Thompson. His cross from the right bounced off a Macc defender to Tommy Rowe who smashed the ball into the top of Jon Brain's net.

It could have been much worse five minutes before the break when Rowe cleverly found Baker but Paul Morgan was once again on hand, coming to rescue his side with a well-timed sliding tackle at the expense of a corner.

With seconds left on the clock, the Silkmen were back in the game when Simon Yeo (pictured) bagged his second goal of the pre-season, reacting quickest when the ball was played in from the right to neatly plant the ball past fon Williams in the County net.

H/T - Silkmen 1 County 2

County could have restored their two-goal advantage just after the break when Baker, after a clever turn and run, found Pilkington who saw his low cross-shot hit Brain and bounce behind for a corner.

Terry Dunfield almost restored parity when his low free kick brought a fine save out of fon Williams.The former Crewe 'keeper was in action again soon after when he dived to his right to turn JJ's 25-yard drive around the post.

With the Silkmen now looking the stronger team the visitors had Gareth Owen to thank when he cleared from Martin Gritton after the striker had gone past fon Williams after latching onto a short back header from McNeil.

The pressure was eventually rewarded on eighty minutes much to the consternation of the visitors. A Jordan Hadfield cross was prodded towards goal by Shaun Brisley and deemed to have crossed the line by referee Howard Webb despite County's protests. That frustration was compounded deep into injury time when a goal from Thompson was ruled offside.

It proved to be the last action of note in a game that would have pleased Keith Alexander given the way his side had fought back to earn a draw but at the same time disappointed given the manner in which the goals had been conceded.