The last time that Barnet won away at Moss Rose was back in September 2006. Both sides had made disappointing starts to the League Two season. Barnet were placed 16th with just 5 points from 6 matches. However their form was improving. They lost their first three matches of the season, but had taken 5 points from their last 3 games as well as winning their 1st round Carling Cup tie away at Cardiff 2-0 with Tresor Kandol scoring both the goals.
Macclesfield had a worse start and were bottom of the league with just two points from 6 games and without a win all season. The two teams’ situation was reflected in a crowd of just 1770.
The first half saw Barnet have most of the possession but Macclesfield looked the more dangerous. Macclesfield nearly took the lead in the opening minute when Matthew Tipton sent a 25 yard drive just past the post. Tipton was involved again on 25 minutes creating a chance for McNeil who saw his low shot pushed around the post by Barnet keeper, Lee Harrison.
Barry Cogan, who had recently joined Barnet from Millwall, hit a 25 yard drive just past the post after about half an hour but neither side was able to grab the game by the throat in the first half.
HT: Silkmen 0-0 Barnet
The Silkmen created the first chance of the second half when substitute, Spencer Weir-Daley shot over from 25 yards. Five minutes into the second half, Tipton had a goal ruled out for offside before, two minutes later, the Silkmen took the lead when a Ian Hendon attempted to clear a Tipton cross, but only succeeded in hitting it against McNeil and the ball deflected past Harrison into the Barnet net.
Only a minute later, Cogan had a shot deflected just over at the other end, while Macclesfield almost went 2-0 up when a Jamie Tolley shot flashed just wide. However, on the hour, Barnet equalized when they were awarded a penalty after Macclesfield keeper, Brain brought down Simon King. Ian Hendon stroked home the penalty to make the score 1-1.
Two minutes later, Barnet took the lead when following a fine run down the right by Jason Puncheon, Nicky Bailey saw his shot palmed away by Brain, only for the ball to fall to Cogan who tapped it in for his first ever Barnet goal.
However, just five minutes later and Macclesfield were level. Bailey and King got in each other’s way when trying to clear and the ball fell to Tipton who shot home from six yards.
Barnet then regained the lead on 73 minutes when Nicky Bailey met a Jason Puncheon corner with a header that just flew into the net. Macclesfield tried to get back level and Danny Swailes saw a shot go just over, but it was the Bees who went closest to scoring again as Bailey had two efforts go just over before the final whistle.
The three points meant that Barnet had taken 8 points from 4 matches and they moved up to 14th place, which is where they ended the season, having flirted with both the play-offs and relegation at different times in the season. Macclesfield finished 22nd, just two points above the relegation places.
FT: Silkmen 2 Bees 3
Macclesfield: Brain, Scott, Swailes, Teague (McIntyre), Regan, Bullock, Tolley, Navarro (Weir-Daley), McNeil, McNulty, Tipton.
Barnet: Harrison, Hendon, King, Charles, Gross, Cogan, Sinclair, Bailey, Puncheon (Graham), Kandol, Norville (Vieira).