Share of the spoils on trip to Cumbria

MACCLESFIELD Town scored late on to earn themselves a hardfought point at fellow promotion contenders Barrow.

It looked like the hosts could be on course to picking up all three points when they took the lead on 79 minutes through Danny Livesey.

The Silkmen grabbed a share of the spoils though when Neill Byrne levelled things up three minutes later to ensure they didn’t leave Holker Street empty-handed.

Macclesfield boss John Askey made two changes from the previous game, with Paul Lewis and Jack Sampson coming in for the suspended John McCombe and the injured Andy Halls.

Barrow were lively in the opening stages of the match, forcing Kingsley James to make several key challenges while he was playing in an unfamiliar position of right-back.

Jordan Williams went closest to scoring for the home side in the first half when he got on the end of Shaun Beeley’s pass, but he fired the effort over the crossbar.

Scott Flinders was then required to keep out a free-kick from former Macclesfield captain Paul Turnbull just before the break, meaning the two teams went into half-time with the scores goalless.

Macc nearly opened the scoring on the hour mark when Paul Lewis met Danny Rowe’s cross, but he headed over the crossbar.

Flinders made another save to keep out Williams on 75 minutes, but he was finally beaten a few moments later when Barrow opened the scoring.

Williams turned provider on this occasion, crossing for Livesey who powered a header into the back of the net to make it 1-0.

A determined Macc side weren’t behind for long though, as Byrne bundled home an equaliser a few minutes later.

Both teams had chances in the closing stages of the game but neither could find another goal, meaning the match finished 1-1.

MACCLESFIELD TEAM:

Flinders; James, Byrne, Pilkington, Hancox; Lewis, Whitaker; Rowe, Whitaker, Sampson (Mackreth 79’). Subs not used: Ross, Fitzpatrick, Sutherland