Bristol Rovers 2 Macclesfield Town 3

Last updated : 07 May 2006 By Footymad Previewer

A double from Marcus Richardson was the icing on the cake for Macclesfield. It brought them not only their second away win, but also saw them preserve their league status in some style.

His late winner came from a glancing header as he ghosted through a static defence to meet John Miles' cross from the right edge of the box.

Macclesfield knew a point would be good enough to make their league place safe, but hardly expected Rovers to help them.

But they did, with poor reading of the game in the seventh minute when nobody picked up David Morley as he made a long run from defence for his sides third corner. The Silkmen's skipper arrived in the goalmouth to meet Kevin McIntyre's flag kick with a downward header which completely bemused defenders.

That lead lasted barely five minutes before Lewis Haldane, a surprise choice as Rovers' player-of-the-year, hooked in an equaliser.

The visitors were soon back with Richardson and Matthew McNeil carrying too much pace and movement for a slow defence to handle.

There was a ridiculous booking for McNeil when he challenged Scott Shearer after the keeper had failed to hold a long-range shot. Then only a desperate tackle by James Hunt stopped Paul Harsley from putting his side back in front.

That came, however, when Richardson got the better of Welsh defender Christian Edwards to blast in a close-range shot.

Rovers had been going through an aimles spell but were lifted by Haldane, who saw one ambitious shot cleared off the line by Danny Swailes.

The arrival of Stuart Campbell after the break to replace academy youngster Chris Lines gave more purpose to Rovers attack, and it was Haldane who put them back in the game. After a strong run from the left, Richard Walker found him with a cross-field ball and he hammered it first time past Alan Fettis.