Jon Brain's missed clearance allowed substitute David Brown to score the simplest of goals to snatch three points for Bradford as not for the first time Macc dominated a game and got nothing from it.

The Silkmen again missed a host of chances including skipper Terry Dunfield's late penalty which was expertly saved by Bantams keeper Scott Loach.

Macc began with the four new signings in the starting eleven and the two Reid brothers down the right who caused early problems for the visitors.

In the third minute they linked up well to cross for Michael Symes at the near post but Matt Clarke arrived first to knock the ball behind.

A Danny Thomas cross from the left was headed back across goal by Levi Reid and the ball bounced just past the post and out of Symes' reach as he followed up.

It took 20 minutes for Bradford to register their first effort, a Peter Thorne strike which whistled over the bar, as at that stage chances were limited at both ends.

Macc saw more of the ball without creating too many clear cut opportunities, although Symes created his own when his run cut through the defence only for his finish to flash wide of the far post.

Michael Symes - Had an impressive first half and almost scored a goal out of nothing with his strong run which split the Bradford backline

Chilean striker Willy Topp dispossessed Sean Hessey on the Bradford right and went down under minimal contact 25 yards out as he looked to beat Hessey for pace.The on-loan centre back was booked and Ben Starosta's free kick was deflected over by the impressive Neil Ashton.

Thomas' clever reverse pass played Izak Reid through and as he reached the ball just before Loach, the keeper got a touch on the ball before Reid went down under his challenge.The young Macc wide man was quickest to react but could then only prod into the side netting.

Topp took the ball off Ashton by the corner flag and after playing a neat one-two with Thorne he selfishly went for goal from a tight angle and Brain saved easily.

A scrappy, stop-start second half came to life when Dunfield broke the offside trap but failed to find a man in blue with his pulled back cross and Levi Reid's ambitious 25 yard follow-up volley flew over.

In the 58th minute Symes broke through the middle and spread the ball out to Levi Reid who crossed for the on-loan Shrewsbury striker to head low to Roach's right, however the keeper was equal to it and held on well.

Macc had little to deal with at the back but the visitors squandered a great chance when a ball chipped into the box was nodded goalwards by David Wetherall and Topp headed straight into the arms of Brain from six yards out.

An even better opportunity fell to Symes at the other end with 20 minutes to go as Gritton's header fell perfectly for him in front of goal but rather than letting the ball drop he went for goal with his head and Loach was able to collect.

Another glorious Macc chance came and went in the 73rd minute when Dunfield again broke the offside trap down the right channel and hurriedly laid the ball into the middle too far in front of Gritton when he could have taken it on further.

The Bradford goal came against the run of play minutes later courtesy of an absolute howler from Brain.Kyle Nix's long ball forward should have been easily cleared by the ex-Port Vale stopper but he swung and missed, allowing substitute David Brown to roll the ball into the empty net for the easiest goal he will ever score.

Down the other end a cross in from the right by Francis Green was missed by Clarke in the middle although unfortunately for Macc there was no-one expecting it and his error went unpunished.

In the last ten minutes Ryan Cresswell's header looped onto the roof of the net but Macc were handed a lifeline when Symes' shot was saved by Loach's legs and Thomas was bundled over in the box as he latched onto the rebound.

The skipper stepped up to take the kick which was well saved low to the keeper's right and he made it an outstanding double save when he then dived back in the other direction to parry Ashton's powerful follow-up effort.The ball was eventually cleared to the delight of the away fans behind the goal and the dismay of Macc who had seen the same keeper deny Gritton when he was thwarted from the spot against Morecambe a few weeks ago.

Lee Bullock's flicked header was hacked off the line at the far post by Jamie Tolley as the visitors looked to seal their unlikely victory and as Macc through more and more men forward Brown wasted a two on one opportunity when he fired at Brain from the edge of the box.

Things became increasingly desperate for the home side as they tried to force an equaliser but nothing clear cut was created.The Bradford goal survived a messy goalmouth scramble and in the closing seconds the final chance of the game fell to Hessey who let fly from 20 yards and failed to hit the target.

As has happened so many times in recent home games the Silkmen saw more of the ball and had more chances than their opponents only to make one mistake and be harshly punished.On the whole it was another good performance but at the moment the good performances would happily be traded for points on the board with the bottom clubs now heavily breathing down Macc necks.

Andy Brinkhurst