Danny Swailes secures another point for The Silkmen

Macclesfield Town went into this match with the same team for the third consecutive game, both sides got off to a bright start looking for an early goal but without really troubling either 'keeper.

The first attempt was after five minutes when a quick free kick by Mansfield led to a shot which went just wide of Alan Fettis' goal. A great run by Mansfield's Jason Talbot led to a corner from which Fettis came to clear the ball away, however Paul Harsley was called upon to give a helping hand.

Macc began to get into the game by playing some lovely one touch football, but with no end product. With twenty minutes gone neither 'keeper had encountered much trouble. The Silkmen continued pressing forward from time to time, a Sandwith cross was flipped back across the goal by Danny Whitaker to Clyde Wijnhard who on the half turn had a shot which went high over the crossbar.

With Mansfield back on the attack, more fast movements from Fettis smothered any danger. Following a long ball Clyde Wijnhard passed the ball on to Kevin McIntyre who ran into the penalty area and was taken down by a Mansfield defender, only for the referee to say that the defender got the ball and not the man. The last ten minutes of the first half faded away with both teams cancelling each other out.

Only moments into the second half Mansfield had three quick attempts on goal. The first saved by Fettis, the second was blocked and the third was easily saved again by The Silkmen's 'keeper. The first five minutes of the second half were all about Mansfield, Adam Rundle collected the ball and skipped past Alan Navarro then took a shot, fortunately Fettis was on hand to keep the scoreline at 0-0.

Former Silkmen Richard Barker collected the ball on the half way line and played a nice ball down the right which was crossed in only to be cleared by Macc again. More pressure from Mansfield, this time a cross by Gus Uhlenbeek was met by Danny Reet who headed the ball over the bar from six yards out.

A long ball from the right found Rundle again at the far post who volleyed across the goal and into the top corner of the net. Straight after the goal Brian Horton changed the game by bringing on John Miles for Alan Navarro, only moments later Barker collected the ball down the right hand side, beat his marker, and played the ball across the goal only for it to be cleared by The Silkmen.

Another good shot by Rundle put Macc back under pressure, but was cleared by the visitors. John Miles made some good runs down the left hand side, then more good work from Miles, Whitaker and Martin Bullock resulted in a free kick from which Sandwith took a shot that went past the wall and only inches past the 'keeper's post.

Lovely football by Macclesfield's captain Dave Morley found it's way to Wijnhard who's pass to Harsley was blocked and won The Silkmen a corner. More good work down the left hand side for Macc saw a cross being put in and Andrew Teague jumped to head the ball that seemed to hit the Mansfield defender, only for the referee to say no and play on.

Moments later Sandwith crossed the ball to Danny Swailes who headed the ball down, but unfortunately a Mansfield defender was in the way. From the right hand side the corner was whipped in by John Miles who found Swailes although Kevin Pressman managed to tip his header over the bar. The resulting corner was taken by Sandwith on the left, the Mansfield defenders didn't quite clear the ball properly and McIntyre did well to keep the ball in play at the back post, fortunately for The Silkmen Swailes was on hand to score the equaliser with ten minutes to go.

With both teams looking for the winning goal, Macclesfield Town went on the attack again but to no avail. There were three minutes of added time but both sides seemed to settle for a draw.