Pictures and analysis of Macclesfield 2 Telford 1

Much will, no doubt, be made of the 31-year-old Conference Premier record – 26 games without a win – which the Bucks equalled in their failure to beat Macclesfield at Moss Rose last night.

But it would be unfair to deflect all the attention away from what was a hard-working and gritty performance from John Psaras's team against a side that just 10 days earlier had thoroughly outplayed the Bucks in the reverse fixture.

It looked like last night could be heading the same way as the first encounter early on as Telford suffered an all-too familiar nightmare start.

Waide Fairhurst put the Silkmen in front inside three minutes when he fired home via a deflection after good work from Dean McDonald.

And new Telford signing Christian Smith, who went straight into the starting line-up after signing from Nantwich Town on Monday, then quickly had to make a strong block on a fierce McDonald shot a minute later.

The hosts, who opted for a three-man forward line, continued to threaten and Peter Winn hit the side-netting from an acute angle with just eight minutes gone as the Silkmen oozed confidence.

Telford goalkeeper Ryan Young did well to deny two strong efforts on goal from McDonald and Craig Braham-Barrett before Telford defender Michael Briscoe made a brave tackle to deny Matthew Barnes-Homer as he was about the pull the trigger, all inside a difficult opening 25 minutes.

At the other end, James Spray spotted Macclesfield keeper Rhys Taylor off his line only to see his 35-yard effort clear the crossbar after 28 minutes.

And it was a sign of better things to come as, 11 minutes before the break, Steve Jones somehow levelled against the run of play when he deflected Nathan Rooney's low drive past a helpless Taylor.

It was the former Walsall frontman's 10th goal of the season, but credit must go to Telford skipper Ryan Valentine for his well-aimed cross which created the opportunity.

Macclesfield tried to respond straight away but Barnes-Homer's ambitious right-wing effort landed on the roof of the net.

Smith was shown a justified yellow card for a late tackle on Fairhurst seven minutes before the break but Telford were suddenly looking a genuine threat and it was Macclesfield's turn to look nervous as the half drew to a close.

Jones almost took advantage when Rooney charged down a poor defensive clearance but his shot, which was blocked by the keeper, was ruled offside.

Keiran Murtagh was not far away with a long-range effort for the hosts which just fizzed wide but Macclesfield, for all their decent passages of play, were booed off at the break.

The Silkmen were sure to come out with all guns blazing after the interval and Barnes-Homer had Telford hearts in their mouths within three minutes of the re-start when he narrowly headed wide from a pin-point corner.

But the Bucks were still looking bright and Spray illustrated their new-found confidence when he drilled narrowly wide with a long-range piledriver.

Valentine had to be alert, though, to prevent Sam Wedgebury's goalbound effort after the hosts launched a rapid counter-attack from Jones's wayward pass 56 minutes in.

It was a reminder of just how quickly things can change in football, and Young agains had to show his agility to tip over former Derby defender Pablo Mills' powerful header with 26 minutes remaining.

Macclesfield substitute John Paul Kissock drilled a decent effort inches wide of the target midway through the half but the visitors were being restricted to largely long-range shooting at this stage.

The corner-count was beginning to mount up though for Macclesfield and Barnes-Homer missed a great chance to restore his side's lead when he nodded straight at Young from another flag-kick with 17 minutes remaining.

Telford had to face several dangerous balls into the box in the final 15 minutes but managed to repel them all as the visitors looked to be running out of ideas.

But it was that man Barnes-Homer who was to deny the Bucks what would have been a well-deserved point when he fired home in the 90th minute, after Young had parried a corner to the edge of the box.

The goalkeeper looked like he may have been fouled as he went to catch the ball but the referee deemed no offence was committed and the winner stood.

This latest defeat, however unlucky, now leaves Telford 11 points from safety at the bottom of the league with just six games left to play.

By Matthew Viney