Macclesfield manager David Moss refused to criticise his side after watching them throw away a two-goal lead on the south coast as Bournemouth preserved their four-month unbeaten home run.
Macclesfield looked to be heading for only their second victory in their last nine league games, when they deservedly took a comfortable advantage into the interval, through first-half strikes from Danny Whitaker and Chris Priest.
It could have been even better for Moss had Lee Hardy's 60th minute shot gone in instead of hitting the woodwork and Bournemouth hit back with two goals in five minutes to leave them unbeaten at home since September.
Wade Elliott reduced the deficit in the 66th minute before James Hayter produced a stunning equaliser from the edge of the area which flew in via the underside of the bar.
Substitute Warren Feeney almost grabbed an unlikely winner for the home side in the closing stages but goalkeeper Steve Wilson moved swiftly to his right to parry his low shot for a corner, but Moss said: “I’m very pleased with that performance and the football we produced in the first 45 minutes was the best we’ve played all season.
“Darren Dunning was outstanding on his debut and he seemed to make all the players around him play a bit better as well.
“It was murder at the end once Bournemouth has equalised but we fully deserved to get a point.†Bournemouth boss Sean O'Driscoll admitted his side had not deserved to get anything more than a point from the game after their poor first-half display.
He said: “That was as poor as we’ve played all season and it would have been a travesty if we had won.
“Macclesfield made it hard for us and it was very disappointing to be 2-0 down at half time, but the players showed great spirit to come back and get a draw.â€