Tuesday's Round-Up: Vanarama National League

John Askey's men beat Tranmere Rovers, who started the evening in second spot, 4-1 at Prenton Park in front of a terrific crowd of 7,385.

The big clash started rather tentatively as both teams sized each other up.

But crucially, it was the Silkmen who broke the deadlock in first half injury-time when a cross from Elliott Durrell was converted by the long-serving Danny Whitaker.

However, 4 minutes into the second half, Tranmere equalised when Andy Cook headed past Shwan Jalal.

Six minutes later, Macclesfield restored their lead when a long-range Durrell effort deceived Scott Davies in the Rovers` goal.

Then on 62 minutes, the Silkmen stretched their lead to 3-1 when Liam Ridehalgh was adjudged to have handled in the box and Whitaker notched his second of the game from the resulting penalty.

And 4 minutes later, Durrell killed the game off as a contest when he made it 4-1, finishing off a quick counter-attack.

Tranmere`s evening got even worse when they returned to the dressing room to discover they had dropped from second to sixth in the table after wins for Sutton United and Boreham Wood.

Aldershot Town, however, slipped up after being held to a 1-1 home draw by a Bromley outfit who are now eighth, just two points off a play-off spot themselves.

Manny Oyeleke’s stoppage time equaliser snatched a vital point for Aldershot at the EBB Stadium after it looked as though they would suffer a second home defeat in four days.

Bromley had led at the break, after Luke Woolfenden’s close range finish in the 27th minute.

And they continued to look the more likely to get the next goal until Oyeleke lashed in a shot in the 92nd minute.

Sutton returned to second spot after winning late on by the odd goal in five at Plainmoor against second-bottom Torquay United.

New loan signing Byron Harrison put the U`s in front after just 6 minutes with his first goal since coming down from Barrow AFC.

But the Gulls were back on level terms 6 minutes later with a header from Sean McGinty.

And Gary Owers` side went ahead in the 45th minute with a fine strike from Brett Williams.

However, the teams went into the interval all-square as Simon Walton headed Sutton level 3 minutes into first half injury-time.

The second half saw chances for both sides, but a draw looked on the cards until 3 minutes into stoppage time when Liam Davis' challenge on Sutton's Louis John was adjudged as a foul and Jamie Collins kept his cool to convert the penalty and win it for Sutton.

Boreham Wood maintained their promotion challenge and are now third, just a point behind Sutton, after beating Maidstone United 1-0 at Meadow Park.

It represents an alarming fall by Maidstone, who have now gone sixteen league games and eighteen in all competitions since beating Torquay on November 11th.

Wood were far from being at their best on the night and missed the opportunity of taking a 33rd minute lead from the spot after Morgan Ferrier had been fouled. But Bruno Andrade`s penalty was well saved by Lee Worgan.

Just 3 minutes later though, Angelo Balanta did put Wood in front from close range after a goalmouth scramble following Alex Davey`s long throw.

The Stones` chances of getting back into the game virtually disappeared 20 minutes from time when they had Stuart Lewis dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Wrexham are also on 59 points but were frustrated by a Solihull Moors outfit who have now only lost once in eight matches and are just a couple of points off the safety mark.

It finished 0-0 at the Automated Technology Group Stadium, with Solihull`s Jermaine Hylton coming closest to breaking the deadlock when his effort struck a post.

Dover Athletic completed the top seven picture and are four points behind Tranmere after beating Dagenham & Redbridge 1-0 at Crabble.

The Daggers` own play-off hopes are diminishing fast and they are now six points behind their Tuesday night hosts.

What turned out to be the only goal of the game came on the half-hour mark – and it was a spectacular effort from Mitch Pinnock, whose bicycle kick few past a surprised Mark Cousins in the Daggers` goal.

Ebbsfleet United beat Woking 2-1 at Stonebridge Road to maintain their top seven hopes.

Fleet took the lead 4 minutes before half-time when Sam Magri was upended in the area and he dusted himself down to beat Nathan Baxter from the resulting penalty.

And then 4 minutes into the second half, a powerful Danny Kedwell strike had too much on it for Baxter to cope with as Fleet doubled their lead.

Just past the hour-mark, Woking reduced the deficit with a header from sub Charlie Carter, but they weren`t able to find a leveller.

At the other end of the table, bottom-markers Guiseley AFC won for the first time in 2018 and gained their first three-point haul since beating Chester FC on Boxing Day.

The Lions beat an AFC Fylde side who have now suffered back-to-back defeats to bring a temporary halt to their top seven challenge.

Guiseley`s first win under Sean St Ledger`s temporary management came late on, and he was grateful to loanee goalkeeper Luke Coddington, who made a string of fine saves, most notably from the league`s leading scorer Danny Rowe and James Hardy.

But with 4 minutes to go, John Rooney popped up with the only goal of the game, slotting past Jay Lynch, to earn a vital win for the Yorkshire side who are still eleven points adrift of fifth-bottom Barrow, however.

The Bluebirds picked up a point from a 1-1 Furness Building Society Stadium draw against Gateshead.

Luke James gave Barrow an 18th minute lead from the spot after he had been pulled down in the box.

Before that, Barrow`s veteran striker Grant Holt had hit the bar and visiting keeper James Montgomery had saved well from James as the hosts started strongly.

And when Gateshead were reduced to ten-men after 54 minutes when Jamal Fyfield was dismissed for a second booking, it looked good for Ady Pennock`s side.

But they took their foot off the gas and were caught on the counter-attack 10 minutes from time which was finished off by Jordan Preston to earn The Heed a point.

Chester suffered a disappointing 1-0 home defeat to in-form Leyton Orient, who made it successive single goal wins after beating AFC Fylde last weekend.

It was a tight affair with chances few and far between.

But it was the O`s who took one in the 68th minute when James Brophy headed firmly past Sam Hornby for what proved to be the winner.

FC Halifax Town moved four points clear of the drop zone and leap-frogged Hartlepool United in the table after beating them 2-0 at The Shay.

Pools dominated the opening 45 minutes without managing to trouble the scorers.

And as often happens, they were made to pay when the Shaymen hit them with two goals in 3 minutes midway through the second period.

Nathan Hotte broke the deadlock after 74 minutes when his deflected effort deceived Scott Loach in the visitors` goal.

And then Loach saved a Matty Kosylo shot but the ball bounced up kindly for Ben Tomlinson to head home the rebound and secure the hosts first win of the year with watching new boss Jamie Fullarton in the stands.

Maidenhead United beat fellow mid-table outfit Eastleigh 3-1 at York Road in Tuesday`s other game.

A fine 20-yard strike from Moses Emmanuel gave the Magpies a 21st minute lead that defender Ayo Obileye cancelled out from the spot in first half injury-time following a foul on Paul McCallum.

But 11 minutes into the second half, Maidenhead were back in front with a close range finish from Sean Marks and 8 minutes later it was 3-1 when Harry Pritchard netted direct from a corner.