Macclesfield surrendered a two goal half time lead to record their eighth draw of the season in a game of two halves at the Moss Rose this afternoon.

The Silkmen again scored twice but failed to win after Andy Mangan and a Nicky Adams penalty cancelled out goals from Danny Thomas and Martin Gritton to grab a point for the visitors.

The Shakers came into the game unbeaten in the last six and with impressive away form, although without leading scorer Paul Scott.

After Friday's defeat at Accrington Ian Brightwell didn't make the widescale changes some had suggested, although Luke Dimech returned from international duty and Carl Regan was recalled at right back.

In a fairly dour opening Ben Futcher's looping header called Tommy Lee into action and Terry Dunfield hit a rising 20 yard drive over the bar as neither side looked like taking a firm grip on the game.

On 18 minutes Kevin McIntyre was booked for taking a free kick too quickly and from the re-taken kick Colin Woodthorpe was also cautioned for encroaching.  When the set piece was finally taken McIntyre fired into the wall and Adam Murray's 25 yard effort flew over from the rebound.

Macc took the lead three minutes later when Francis Green took a quick short corner to Thomas and the little winger cut inside his man before unleashing a scorching drive which hit Woodthorpe on its way into the net.

Macc dominated for a while after the goal and could have immediately doubled their tally but a saving challenge from Paul Morgan denied Green when he looked to capitalise on a loose ball in the box.

With confidence boosted the home side pressed for a second and when Levi Reid broke on the counter he took too long to pick his pass through to Green and keeper Jim Provett just slid out to reach the ball first.

A sweeping cross-field move brought the Silkmen agonizingly close to grabbing that second when Dimech picked out Regan's run on the right - he volleyed inside to Reid and after turning towards goal rattled the crossbar with a rasping 25 yard drive.

Martin Gritton bagged his sixth of the campaign in first half stoppage time when Green's pass played him through to slot past Provett and into the far corner from a tight angle.

Martin Gritton - Cool finish put the Silkmen two goals up

The Silkmen looked good value to take all three points at the break as Bury offered little going forward, however things changed just five minutes after the restart when the visitors pulled one back out of the blue.  A long punt from Provett was badly misjudged by Dimech and bounced over the Maltese centre-back for Mangan to run onto.  With Tommy Lee out of position the ex-Accrington man lobbed the ball over the stranded keeper to give his side a lifeline and open up the game.

Gritton saw his powerful effort parried after a smart turn and straight up the other end Adams' low cross narrowly evaded Mangan as he raced in at the back post.

With neither defence looking particularly watertight McIntyre's long ball was poorly dealt with but as Gritton knocked it round Provett he couldn't find a finish as he lost his footing in the area.

Nicky Adams drew his side level from the spot on 63 minutes, sending Lee the wrong way after Dunfield had tripped Mangan from behind following a half-cleared cross from the left.

Simon Wiles came on for Reid for the last 20 minutes as Brightwell looked for some more width in attack, although it was the Shakers who almost went ahead soon after.  Richard Baker's expert free kick drew an outstanding save from Lee as he clawed the drive away from the top corner and then blocked Glynn Hurst's close range rebound.

Tommy Lee - Made an outstanding save to stop Baker's long range free kick

Gareth Evans was thrown on for Green after 77 minutes but he struggled to get into the game as Macc's attacks became more direct and if anything it looked like Bury might snatch a winner.

The substitute headed McIntyre's curling free kick wide from ten yards on 82 minutes and then as Macc pushed forwards in the final of the three added minutes he was inches away from connecting with Gritton's nod down and as Dunfield struggled to control on the edge of the box the referee blew the final whistle.

After coasting to a two goal lead in the first period Macc really should have gone on to win the game and shot themselves in the foot by conceding so early in the second half - giving Bury the impetus to get something from a game they looked out of earlier on.

Andy Brinkhurst