Under the watchful eyes of ex-England international Paul Ince, the Silkmen were beaten by two wonder goals but were in the end inches away from a dramatic late leveller.

Bury midfielder Richard Baker found the net twice from long range after Macc had taken the lead through Rob Scott, with Glynn Hurst making it three later on.  The Silkmen pulled one back, but despite throwing everything forward in the last 15 minutes couldn't scramble a draw.

With Martin Bullock suspended and Matthew Tipton ineligible, Macc started with Spencer Weir-Daley in attack, partnering Matty McNeil in his first game for around a month.

Captain Dave Morley had Macclesfield's first chance of the game, heading over Kevin McIntyre's near post corner.  Soon after, McIntyre's snapshot was well saved down low by on-loan keeper Lewis Edge.

At the other end, Marc Pugh couldn't connect properly with Dwayne Mattis' flick and Tommy Lee gathered with ease.

Macc were looking the better side in the opening exchanges and McIntyre's dangerous corner was headed behind by Tom Kennedy.

Andy Bishop should have broken the deadlock after 19 minutes, he found space in the box after John Miles had deflected a cross into his path, but his half-volley was turned behind by Lee.

The opening goal came from another McIntyre corner, Danny Swailes heading the ball down for Rob Scott to hook the ball into the far corner with his left foot to give the home side the lead.

Mattis had the goal in his sights a few minutes later after collecting Bishop's nod down, but McIntyre made a tremendous saving challenge as he was about to pull the trigger.

However, the visitors did find the net with their next attack.  Richard Baker picked the ball up around 35 yards out, went round Jamie Tolley as he slipped, and hammered into the corner for the equaliser.

Bury grew in confidence after the goal and had Macc pegged in their own half for the last ten minutes without creating any more clear opportunities.  The best chance came when Pugh cut the ball back to Bishop but Swailes just stretched enough to poke clear.

The Shakers came out just as they left off after the interval and took the lead with another fabulous Baker strike on 49 minutes.  He latched onto a ball down the left channel and cut inside his man before unleashing a perfect curling right footed shot into the top corner, leaving Lee grasping at thin air.

After being warned earlier in the game Matty McNeil was booked after he used his arms as he jumped for a high ball with opposition skipper Dave Challinor.

On-loan striker Glynn Hurst grabbed the third goal, and his fifth in four games, just before the hour mark.  A long free kick was pumped into the box and flicked on by Mattis, finding Hurst unmarked to slide in from close range.

Rob Scott almost scored a bizarre second goal as his cross from the right wing was left by the Bury keeper and bounced back into play off the far post.

Mattis had a chance to heap further misery on Macc when he robbed Alan Navarro on the half-way line, but he had to check back and his cross field ball was intercepted by Tolley as he tracked back.

Macclesfield pulled one back after Swailes' header was cleared off the line by Pugh and from the resulting corner Weir-Daley popped up at the front post to head in unchallenged to get his side back in the game.

Colin Heath was introduced for the last ten minutes for the disappointing Matty McNeil as the home team piled forward in search of an equaliser.

Jordan Hadfield blasted wildly over when the ball broke to him with the keeper on the ground and Macc resorted to pumping long balls into the area, with Morley pushing forward to give the front line some extra height.

A huge penalty claim was turned down in the final minute as Navarro charged into the box, but it looked like a great challenge as he was about to shoot.

However the drama continued until the final seconds of the game as Macc desperately looked to get their third.  Heath controlled a long ball from Lee, took a touch out wide and drilled towards the far corner, only to see the keeper make a fingertip save to divert the ball onto the foot of the post and bounce back to a Bury defender to clear.

Again the Silkmen scored two goals at home but got no points as defensive frailties, coupled with a fantastic second Bury goal, cost them at least a share of the points.

A decision is expected to be made this week about the next permanent manager, but whoever it is has got a lot of work on their hands if Macc are to claw themselves back up the table.

Andrew Brinkhurst