On final day

Bell thumped the ball towards goal, his shot deflecting past the keeper to give Macc a one goal lead on 22 minutes.

Everything seemed to be going Macc’s way and they continued to put Dartford under consistent pressure as they tried to double the advantage.

The best chance to do so came to Holroyd who half volleyed a cross from Barrow high above the Dartford crossbar.

The men in blue controlled the rest of the half, their lead unthreatened, but with news that Forest Green had come from behind to lead 2- 1 at Gateshead, Macc could not afford any mistakes after half time.

The teams emerged for the second period and neither was able to assert dominance in midfield, the ball exchanging hands too easily for either side’s liking.

The Silkmen looked the side more likely to score once Adriano Moke was introduced to the game on 60 minutes as a replacement for Danny Rowe.

The pacey winger sparked life into Town’s attack and was a real handful for the Dartford defence.

Time and time again Moke created something from nothing with a flick of his heel, and in the 79th minute when Moke skilfully played the ball past his marker he was brought down, earning the free kick which set up Town’s second goal.

Turnbull sent the free kick into the Dartford area where Holroyd attempted an overhead kick which saw the ball high into the air.

Darts keeper Ibrahim failed to gather the ball and it fell to Thierry Audel who spun his man and struck the ball home from six yards.

The result was in the bag but it was not the end to the day’s drama with two red cards produced in the final minutes.

The first was shown to Macc’s George Pilkington on 83 minutes who, despite minimal contact was last man when he brought Pugh down outside the box.

Ben Toner had no choice but to produce red as a result.

The second was in the dying moments of the game when Woods brought down Turnbull to see earn a second yellow card and bring an end to proceedings.

Taylor, Grant, Audel, Pilkington (Sent Off 83’), Barrow, Bell, Holroyd (Cowan 84’), Whitaker, Barnes-Homer, Turnbull, Rowe (Moke 60’). Unused Subs: Haining, Branagan, Phenix.

MACCLESFIELD:

DARTFORD:

Ibrahim, Driver, McAuley, Noble (Hayes 66’), Richards, Dallison-Lisbon, Adams (Sent Off 90+2), Bradbrook, Green, Pugh, Crawford (Bradbrook 63’). Unused Subs: Daley, Collier, Vint. Ben Toner

1756

REFEREE: ATTENDANCE:

ALEXANDER HANNAH CINDERFORD kept hopes of survival alive at Priory Park with a win over already relegated Macclesfield who missed their chance to snatch a seldom home win in their last game at Priory Park of the season.

The visitors got off to a blistering start after fly half Callum Sheedy spotted a gap in the recently stern Blues defence to race through and score, he also converted his own score.

Macc responded on four minutes, Elliot Brierley beat a couple of defenders and offloaded to winger Josh Fowles who finished expertly in the corner. Tom Eaton missed the tough conversion from the touch line.

A George Evans try, converted by Sheedy, and a penalty restored the visitors’ lead at 5-17.