Alan Navarro's late strike earned the Silkmen an important point against Darlington in their quest for Football League survival.

The visitors had earlier taken the lead when Ricky Ravenhill latched on to debutant Greg Blundell's pull back to smash home from close range.

Matty McNeil should have put Macclesfield ahead after just six minutes, but his first time shot sailed into the keeper's arms after he was played through by John Miles.

Craig James was booked for the visitors on 11 minutes when he cynically pulled Miles back when he raced away down the right.

Macc had another dangerous free kick a minute later but Kevin McIntyre curled wildly over the bar and out of the ground.

The home faithful were on their feet on 14 minutes when Navarro was sent through, but the referee judged Ravenhill's challenge to be fair as the ex-Tranmere man was about to pull the trigger.

Macc saw much of the ball in the first quarter although without finding a finish to match and were almost made to pay with a few chances on the break for the Quakers.  Tommy Wright broke through down the middle after beating Scott to the ball, but Navarro got back to outmuscle him and clear.

McNeil challenged the away keeper to a high ball and the referee blew for a foul when he headed it out of his hands, which was to be his last impression on the game as he was brought off for Matthew Tipton after half an hour.

Darlington took the lead after 34 minutes, Blundell capitalising on poor defending by Carl Regan on the right to square the ball to Ravenhill who finished from six yards.

John Murphy headed weakly at the keeper from Miles' chipped cross on 44 minutes and the two again combined a minute later for Miles to curl a shot too close to the keeper from the edge of the box.

After the break the Silkmen had another great chance to level just five minutes in.  From a half cleared corner Navarro's shot was diverted towards goal by Tipton, his header was superbly saved and Murphy failed to turn in the rebound as he headed into the side netting from a tight angle.

Macc continued to see a lot of the ball, but were largely limited to long range efforts.  Tipton appeared to be dragged down in the box and seconds later McIntyre had two chances - the first was blocked and at the second attempt he could only shoot low into the keeper's arms with his weaker right foot.

Possibly the best chance to equalise fell to Tipton when he was played through into the box by Adam Murray's precise pass.  His angled run beat the offside trap but he dragged his effort into the ground from 12 yards, giving Jones an easy save.

The home side looked dangerous from Rob Scott's long throws and it seemed like it was only a matter of time before one of them paid off.  On 75 minutes Danny Swailes had the ball at his feet with his back to goal from Murphy's flick and couldn't find a Macc player with his backheel.

Jordan Hadfield came on for Murray and Colin Heath replaced Martin Bullock, who had faded out of the game after a bright start.

Scott was booked for Macc when he made a late challenge around 30 yards out.  The free kick was deflected behind by the wall and the resulting corner came to nothing.

Tipton missed another guilt edged chance on 85 minutes when he controlled Murphy's header and lobbed over the keeper.  However he put too much on it and the ball sailed over the bar and into the visiting fans on the Silkman Terrace.

A minute later though the goal did come - courtesy of Alan Navarro's first of the season.  A long throw wasn't properly cleared and bounced out for the midfielder to drill into the bottom left corner from 10 yards.

The Silkmen almost conceded again on the counter attack with a minute to go when substitute Neil Wainwright was sent clear after linking with Ravenhill.  However, hero of the moment Navarro got back to put him off and Lee recovered to dive at his feet to collect the ball.

Macc saw two final chances in injury time to find a winner as the crowd urged them on to find the second goal. McIntyre's corner from the right was met at the near post by Heath but he failed to connect properly with a glancing header.  Finally, with the last kick of the game, Miles volleyed agonisingly wide of the far post from 20 yards after a poor clearance fell for him.

Two points lost rather than one won were the thoughts of Ray Mathias afterwards, although for long periods it did look as if the Silkmen were to fall to a third consecutive defeat.  The draw was enough to keep Macc out of the bottom two on goal difference, with Grimsby leaping up the table after a 6-0 away win.

By Andy Brinkhurst

Post-match comments from Ray Mathias will follow.