Macclesfield Town 0 Lincoln City 0

Last updated : 30 March 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Neither manager admitted that they were disappointed with a point after a frustrating stalemate that did neither Macclesfield's hopes of league survival nor Lincoln's dreams of automatic promotion any good.

Macclesfield manager John Askey said: "It was a point gained not two lost, but we will just have to see at the end of the season.

"Every point that gets us closer to 50 is a bonus. Lincoln are a strong team that are going for the play-offs and I thought that defensively we did very well." Lincoln manager Keith Alexander said: "If you come to a side that were beaten 4-0 the previous Saturday you know they're going to shut up shop.

"We had the majority of the play but couldn't get a goal. That said we didn't create too many clear-cut chances.

"I don't look at it as two points dropped because when you come away from home you've always got to be satisfied with a point." Lincoln had the first chance in the second minute when Simon Yeo forced Steve Wilson to claw a header from underneath the crossbar.

Macclesfield should have equalised in the ninth minute, but having risen above the opposition defence, centre-back Steve Payne planted a firm header narrowly wide.

Lincoln went closest moments before the break, a curling Kevin Ellison free-kick palmed on to his own crossbar by Wilson.

Neither side could control the game in the second half, but Macclesfield had the best chance in the 72nd minute when a crashing volley from Matthew Tipton ricocheted off keeper Alan Marriott's shoulder and luckily over his own crossbar.

Payne again went close again at the death, but his 15-yard volley was blocked on the six-yard line.