Russ Wilcox made two changes from the side that secured a hard earned point on the road in midweek. Sam Fishburn was handed an immediate debut, following his Thursday night arrival on loan from Scunthorpe United, while Bobby Johnson started in place of the injured Bailey Conway. The changes looked to have given the Blues a lift, making a bright start to the game, but they soon found themselves one down. Macclesfield scoring with their first attack, when Luke Duffy was able to weave in from the left-hand side and finish calmly past Dylan Wharton in the Trinity goal.

Fishburn and his strike partner Declan Howe were looking to forge a partnership. The on loan Iron, wearing the 21 shirt, won the flick on. Chased by Howe, he was fouled twenty-five yards from goal. Johnson stepped up to send the freekick up and over the wall. Max Dearnley well placed to make the routine save. On ten minutes, D’Mani Mellor, the former Manchester United youngster, steered an effort a yard wide of Wharton’s left hand up right, with the keeper rooted to the spot.

The hosts did manage to cause the Champions-elect a couple of scares, when Howe was hauled down, with nothing given. Will Lancaster dropping the ball cleverly over the centre half, and with Howe getting beyond the last man. He was dragged to the ground, but nothing was given. Wharton was then called into action, plunging to his right to deny D’Mani Mellor, with Ashley Jackson on hand to block the follow up effort.

Trinity looked as though they could get some joy in behind the full back, with Brandon Lee booked for an off the ball tug on, you guessed it, Declan Howe. The Blues had strung a really good move together, and after Howe had helped the ball onto Fraser Preston, the former Scotland youth international found himself driving goalwards with Fishburn to his left, and Howe, decked. Rather than seeing the move develop, the man in the middle, Mr Morris awarded the freekick, and cautioned the full back.

Jordan Helliwell then drove Trinity forward, winning a freekick on the edge of the D. Preston took that one, but failed to work Dearnley, firing over the bar. Helliwell was beginning to have an influence on the game and he flashed a tantalising ball across the face of goal, as Trinity threatened to come back into the game. A real move of quality from Wilcox’s men, saw the former Barnsley man get to the by-line, the ball across the face of goal just needing the faintest of touches, from anyone, to turn the ball over the line.

Wharton was into the action once again, thirty minutes in. This time saving from Macc’s John Rooney. He was up and across quickly to smother. Though a corner was awarded, the Holy Blues dealt with the corner comfortably. The game was interjected, while Mr Morris became aware of an exuberant character on the visiting bench, who seemed incensed that a number of decisions hadn’t gone his sides’ way. After the two had gone head to head, aired their differences, play was allowed to continue. And Lancaster found his name in the Referee’s notebook as he collided with D’Mani Mellor.

Just past the half hour mark, Danny Elliot profited from slack defending. The offside flag stayed down, and a kind deflection saw the league’s joint leading marksman with the ball back at his feet, where he was able to net his first of the afternoon. Elliot once again proving to be a thorn in the side of the Holy Blues. Ten minutes before the half time interval eyes turned to Mr Morris again. This time as Ashley Jackson’s centre was aimed towards the head of Fishburn. The centre forward hauled to the floor, but a corner was the sum reward for Trinity’s toils.

Preston stung the hands of Dearnley, after more good play from Helliwell, getting down the right hand side this time. His ball fizzed in, was diverted away, but only as far as Preston, who fired his effort through a crowded box. Macc’s former Farsley Celtic ‘keeper equal to the effort.

As the half time whistle loomed, Russ Wilcox’s men were growing into the game, and would have wanted the half to have continued. Helliwell snapped in to win the ball back, and the twin strike force of Howe and Fishburn made similar runs, and combined. Only to see the ball deflected behind for a corner kick, on the far side. Promising signs that as the two become more understanding of each others’ game, that there could be a decent little partnership there.

And on the stroke of half time, Lancaster did well to bring down Jackson’s deep centre from the left. But the centre back couldn’t add to his six goals so far this season. Only able to find the side netting, in the final action of the first half.

Half Time: Gainsborough Trinity 0 Macclesfield FC 2

Savage made a change at the break. The booked, Brandon Lee, being replaced by former Stalybridge Celtic and Marine winger-cum-full back, Neil Kenghi. Fishburn and Preston were again looking like they may have the keys to unlock a determined visiting defence, protected by Laurent Mendy, in the defensive midfield role. But despite winning a number of corners, the Blues’ delivery wasn’t finding a way past the first man.

John Rooney saw his freekick beaten away by Wharton, before the keeper was in the right place to block Sean Etaluka’s effort. The former Barrow man firing through a crowded box. Wharton wouldn’t have the same luck, just before the hour when Elliot grabbed his second and Macclesfield’s third. Controlling, spinning and firing past Wharton from the edge of the box.

Again, the hosts went again. Howe providing the hold up play this time, before finding the supporting Fraser Preston. Preston teed up Ashley Jackson, who let fly. But it was straight down the throat of Max Dearnley, as Jacko was unable to recreate that strike, against his former side Boston United, in the Emirates FA Cup.

Wilcox rang the changes with a pair of double substitutions either side of a slick flowing move, that saw Howe race away down the right. Receiving a neat backheel from Preston, before firing up and over the angle of post and bar. First Joe Stacey and Aaron Simpson entered the fray, to replace Lewis Butroid and Sisa Tuntulwana, before George Hornshaw and Curtis Durose were given their briefs, Preston and Johnson making way. D’Mani Mellor then added the gloss, after Kengi had skipped to the by-line and picked out the former Manchester United youngster at the near post. Mellor rising to nod in the fourth.

Trinity made a game of it, but Macclesfield exerted their dominance. And the age old adage of winning your battles in both boxes, will invariably see you winning the game. The Blues weren’t quite at their best. And conceding the early goal gave an uphill mountain to climb, but the relentless run of games, mean there is not long to wait for Russ and KP to round the lads up, regroup, and go again.

It's Matlock at home on Tuesday night, followed by a long trip up to the North East, to take on one of the surprise packages of the season, Stockton Town, on Saturday. The relentless run continues, as the Holy Blues look to put recent disappointments behind them, and pick up an important three points, that will make all the difference in an ultra-tight division.

The Teams

Gainsborough Trinity: Dylan Wharton, Sisa Tuntulwana (Aaron Simpson 64), Ashley Jackson, Bobby Jonhson (George Hornshaw 71), Will Lancaster, Dylan Cogill, Lewis Butroid (Joe Stacey 64), Jordan Helliwell, Sam Fishburn (Javelle Clarke 80), Declan Howe, Fraser Preston (Curtis Durose 71).

Macclesfield FC: Max Dearnley, Lewis Fensome, Brandon Lee (Neil Kengi 46), John Rooney, Sam Heathcote, Rollin Menayese, Sean Etaluku (Dontai Gabbidon 83), Laurent Mendy, D’Mani Mellor (Justin Johnson 90), Danny Elliot (Alex Curran 83), Luke Duffy (Danny Whitehead 77).

Macclesfield goals: Luke Duffy (3), Danny Elliot (34 & 56), D’Mani Mellor (79)
Attendance: 814

Match report by Rob Hughes (@AATM_Media)
Photos by Tommy Cox and Ross Nicholls