After 20 league games the elusive win came in style as the Silkmen battled on with ten men to beat Rochdale thanks to Matty McNeil's second half strike.
Referee Uriah Rennie sent Alan Navarro off just before half time but Macc fought for every ball and defended resolutely to pick up their first victory of the campaign.
The first chances of the game fell to Macc as Jamie Tolley volleyed wide when well placed on 6 minutes and John Murphy saw his goal chalked off for offside.
The linesman at the other end seemed to be more reluctant to use his flag, despite Rochdale forwards appearing to be offside on a couple of occasions.
Chris Dagnall raced through on goal early on before skewing his shot wildly behind for a goal kick.
A deep corner from Kevin McIntyre was headed back across goal by John Murphy and Danny Swailes failed to hit the target with his header as the ball dropped behind him.
Morike Sako was having a bad night of it for Dale, firstly missing an easy chance from close range after William Moquet's low centre and then slicing an attempted cross straight out of play when he had all the time in the world to weigh it up.
After 25 minutes Rob Scott was forced to go off injured and youngster James Jennings was brought on for his home debut.
A mix up in the visiting backline gave Martin Bullock a run at the defence, but his ball through to McNeil was too far ahead of the ex-Hyde striker.
Rochdale also had the ball in the net midway through the half when a free kick was headed in by Gary Jones, although the referee had blown for a foul as soon as the ball was kicked.
Minutes later it was Macclesfield's turn to have a dangerous free kick - Navarro slamming the ball through the wall and inches past the post with keeper Matt Gilks rooted to the spot.
Dale's best chance of the half fell to Moquet who cut inside McIntyre on the left and fired straight at Asmir Begovic. The rebound fell to Jones and his drive from 20 yards was deflected just wide.
The Silkmen were reduced to 10 men in the 38th minute when Navarro was shown a straight red card after challenging for a high ball with John Doolan. There seemed few protests at the time from the Rochdale players but he was given his marching orders for leading with his elbow when jumping for the ball.
The half finished as it began, with Dagnall breaking the Macc offside trap. This time Carl Regan got back just in time to slide to ball clear for a corner.
Things looked bleak for the Silkmen as they went off at the break and having not created much after some good early play it looked an even bigger struggle with 10 men.
Colin Heath replaced John Murphy at half time as Macc tried to give the side more legs in what appeared to be a 4-3-1-1 formation.
Dale almost took the lead on 51 minutes when Ernie Cooksey's effort from Doolan's deep cross was parried by Begovic and the young keeper had to think quickly to tip the loose ball clear of danger. It then broke to Jones, who hit his shot straight at the keeper from the edge of the box.
The Silkmen broke the deadlock a minute later thanks to an awful backpass by ex-Scunthorpe defender Nathan Stanton. McNeil reached the ball at about the same time as the goalkeeper and although it fell to Heath under pressure he had to turn back and it looked like the chanced had gone. However, Jamie Tolley fed McNeil and the big striker turned and struck his shot just out of Gilks' reach into the bottom corner.
The goal gave McNeil and the rest of the side a big lift and they could have doubled their advantage seconds later with a little more composure. McNeil ran at the defence before laying the ball off to Heath who charged in from the right. His first time shot was always rising and hammered into the front of the roof of the Star Lane Stand.
Rochdale were seeing more of the ball then Macc but not forcing any clear-cut opportunities and even the linesman began to use his flag a bit more.
Swailes had another chance in the air from McIntyre's free kick as he failed to get any direction on his header and Heath couldn't make any contact as the ball dropped.
The visitors made two substitutions in an attempt to get back into the game with around 20 minutes remaining.Firstly Glen Murray replaced the dismal Morike Sako and then more surprisingly the impressive William Moquet was taken off for Clive Moyo-Modise.
Towards the end the Silkmen had spells camped in their own area and the determination not to let their lead slip was obvious. Bullock made a saving challenge on Moyo-Modise as Dagnall played him in and he then had to dive to head a cross clear as the pressure increased.
However, Macc were breaking to good effect and again a back pass was held up by the wet pitch.Gilks' kick ricocheted off the advancing Heath and could have gone anywhere - fortunately for Dale it only cost them a throw in.
Hearts were in the mouths of every Macc fan in the 87th minute as Glen Murray's header seem to hang in the air for eternity before bouncing back off the post and to safety with Begovic beaten.
Murray had one final chance in injury time, but his curling shot from the left flew past the far post.
After playing the three minutes of injury time - plus at least two more - Uriah Rennie gave a long blow of his whistle and that was it. The Silkmen were no longer the team without a win!
A great second half performance will be a great boost to everyone and every single player gave their all to get the three points, this may just be the start of the season. Playing with ten men every week might just be the way forward!
Andrew Brinkhurst
