It was very much a case of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s Show’ for the Lions at Moss Rose this afternoon against a Macclesfield team who themselves had little to play for. However, three home substitutions changed the complexion  of the game and Paul Lewis grabbed the crucial goal, glancing home a near-post header from a corner in the  76th minute.

Ollie Norburn had skimmed the bar with a first-half free kick, but apart from that the visitors’ lacklustre attack posed few problems for the home side until a goalmouth scramble at the death nearly brought an equaliser.

Unlike Tuesday, results elsewhere did Guiseley no favours as both Torquay and Boreham Wood registered victories, whilst FC Halifax and Altrincham both lost. It leaves the Lions still needing another three points from two games to ensure National League football next season.

The game at Boreham Wood next Saturday now becomes a proverbial six-pointer as Halifax still have a game in hand on both teams. They play it on Tuesday at home to Eastleigh, who still harbour play-off hopes.

Mark Bower post-match: