Bristol Rovers 2 Macclesfield 2

Last updated : 27 August 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Macclesfield Town are still looking for their first win of the season but they will be wondering how they allowed this one to slip away.

They saw a two-goal lead vanish after Rovers manger Ray Graydon took a brave - or desperate - decision.

Midway through the first half he pulled off Wayne Carlisle, who scored twice on Saturday, to repair a badly shredded midfield.

In a reshuffle to give his side stability he sent on Graham Hyde to tame the easy breaks Macclesfield were making through the middle.

His reward came in a three-minute spell around the half-hour. First Paul Tait scored with a shot from the edge of the box and he then nodded down a cross from Kevin Street, who had come in from the left, for Rob Quinn to head the equaliser.

Even so Macclesfield had their chances to regain the lead early in the second half when Danny Whitaker had a fierce shot blocked while centre-back Adam Barrett charged down a rebound shot by Chris Priest.

The Silkmen had got away to a dream start and were two up in the first quarter of an hour. Both goals were gifts from a haphazard Rovers defence.

A poor clearance by right-back Danny Boxall set up a visitors' raid that saw Martin Carruthers upended just outside the box.

John Miles stepped up for Macclesfield and left keeper Kevin Miller standing with a crisp shot to the far corner.

Within minutes Rovers skipper Barrett, up for a set piece, had a shot booted off the line just inside the post by Whitaker.

However, Macclesfield went further ahead in the 15th minute with a little more help from Rovers.

This time Miles was fouled and when Carruthers over hit a looping ball, home left-back Ijah Anderson finished the move with an unintended volley into the top of the net.

Macclesfield could easily have had a third goal as Miles chipped back from the by-line, and with Carruthers consistently out-jumping the defenders Rovers where in deep trouble.

They were able to tighten up considerably following their manager's midfield switch and Hyde emerged as their key defensive player.

But it was the late arrival of Calum Willock in the final quarter which could have swung the result Rovers way.

A loan signing from Fulham, Willock had both the pace and the presence to worry Macclesfield but the visitors held on for a well-deserved point.