A rejuvenated Silkmen side made it four points from six against promotion opposition in an entertaining encounter at the Darlington Arena this afternoon.
A goal upon his return for Gritts!
Other than Martin Gritton replacing the suspended Gareth Evans, Ian Brightwell named an unchanged side from the starting team that won at Peterborough.
With the pitch very much the worst for wears as a result of the recent wet weather, it was the Quakers who settled down the quickest and had very much the better of the opening exchanges.
Darlington took the lead in the tenth minute through Tommy Wright, who ghosted in at the near post to head home Clark Keltie's corner. The Silkmen were fortunate not to concede a penalty shortly afterwards. Sean Hessey looked to have brought down Wright but referee Mr Whitestone waved away the calls for a spot-kick.
Moments later, Gregg Blundell had the ball in the net but the referee had already stopped play for a foul on Jon Brain as he went to collect Julian Joachim's cross. Gritton almost equalised midway through the half. Ashton set Michael Symes free down the left flank and he sent a fine ball across the face of goal but Gritton's connection was miscued and the ball went wide from inside the six-yard box.
With the midfield seeing more of the ball and Izak Reid having another good game on the right the Silkmen had to wait until the hour mark before finally getting back on level terms. With the home fans appealing for offside the returning Martin Gritton beat his marker and kept his head to coolly fire home from 12 yards.
After Danny Thomas' fierce shot brought a great save out of Stockdale, Macc took the lead. Ryan Cresswell, who was assured and composed at the back, rose highest at a Dunfield corner to power a header into the Quakers goal.
However, the defender turned from hero to villain 20 minutes from time when Paul Mayo's long throw-in allowed Darlo skipper Alan White to cause havoc at the back and the Sheffield United loanee headed past the stranded Brain.
Joachim, whose pace and skill was a constant threat, was denied by a fine stop from Brain. After parrying the shot from eight yards, the keeper recovered to block Wright who had followed up. Although Darlington looked the more likely to get the late breakthrough, Izak Reid had two pot-shots at goal, both of which sailed over the bar.
A hugely entertaining game ended with a point each and, but it could have been much more for the Silkmen.
