Shrewsbury: Garner, Darren Moss, Herd, Langmead, Murdock, Tierney, Drummond, Hunt, Davies (Hall 75), Hibbert, Symes (Nicholson 66).

Subs Not Used: Esson, Ashton, Jones.

Goals: Drummond 33, Hunt 65.

Macclesfield: Brain, Regan, Doughty, McNulty, McIntyre, Levi Reid (Wiles 69), Tolley (Dunfield 68), Murray, Thomas, Green, Evans (Gritton 61).

Subs Not Used: Jennings, Blackman.

Booked: Tolley, McIntyre, Murray.

Ref: Keith Stroud (Hampshire).
Assistant Referee (yellow): Roy Burton
Assistant Referee (plain): Adam Watts

Attendance: 4763 (256)

Gary Peters brings Ben Herd, Ben Davies and Colin Murdock come into the starting line-up with Luke Jones and Neil Ashton dropping to the bench while Steve Leslie drops from the squad.

Town were looking to take the early advantage against Macclesfield and went close on two occasions, first then Colin Murdock snuck in at the back post to get a decent header in and when Dave Hibbert did well to chase down a back pass and nearly got in before keeper Brain.

It was end to end stuff at times and Macclesfield nearly got in when a long ball down the centre found Francis Green running in on goal but Garner was quickly off his line to clear, the ball then found Davies just outside the area and he tried his luck from long range but his shot flew wide of the target.

Town had a gilt edged chance to take the lead after more decent pressure saw the ball clipped into Hibbert, he had his back to goal but did brilliantly to head the ball down to set-up Drummond, he just had to wait for the ball to drop and then drilled in a low drive but keeper Brain did well to get down and block the shot.

Drummond nearly made amends minutes later after a Ben Davies free-kick was parried clear by Brain, the ball was kept well by Town on the edge of the Macc box as they looked for the angle, it came to Drummond with his back to goal on the 18-yard line, he then lifted the ball over his head towards the back post and Brain had to scramble back to stop the ball dropping under the bar.

Town were having the best chances on goal and another Ben Davies free-kick caused problems, the ball came back in and Symes flicked it onto Hibbert, he then put the ball down to Darren Moss who looked to be in behind the defence but as he was about to stab the ball home a block came in and Brain gratefully collected the ball.

Town grabbed the lead on 33-minutes with a piece of quick thinking and direct play from Dave Hunt, up till then Herd had been taking the throws on the right but this time Hunt was quickly over to pick up the ball, he then threw a low ball into the near post to find Drummond who looped his header over Brain to make it 1-0 to Town.

Macclesfield had shown little danger around the Town box but when Francis Green managed to get past Langmead down the right the visitors looked dangerous, Green then pulled the ball back and got a cross in towards Murray and Evans but the Town defence managed to get bodies in behind the ball and Tierney then cleared up.

The home side had another decent effort to add to their led just before the break from another set-piece. Hunt and Davies were over the ball and it was Davies who whipped in another great delivery towards the runs of Murdock and Moss, the ball came to Murdock but his header was deflected over for a Town corner.

Half-time: 1-0

Macclesfield had Town on the back foot twice in the opening exchanges of the half, the first after they got in behind the Town defence and whipped a cross in from a tight angle that had Garner back peddling, then Danny Thomas cut past Herd to get free down the line and run towards goal, he drive a low ball across the goal but luckily for Town no Macc foot could connect.

Town were playing so much better than they had in recent weeks and they seemed willing to try new things and look for the quick outlet. Davies was seeing a lot of the ball but he was playing in a deeper roll and this had given Drummond the freedom to get forward more and on most attacks he was Town furthest player up the field.

Town got a much deserved second goal on 65-minutes and again it started with a set-piece after a great ball from Drummond had put Hunt in on goal with Adam Murray looking to block Hunt off, and he did and go a yellow card for his troubles. Hunt and Davies were again over the ball but this time Davies lifted the ball towards Murdock and Moss at the back post, the ball was headed clear by Macclesfield but only as far as Dave Hunt who drove in a superb low drive that left Brain rooted to the spot and flew in low at his right hand post.

Macc manager Ian Brightwell made a double substation to try and turn things around and this buoyed the visitors for a while. They were getting at Town and pushing the home side back, but Town were holding strong with the back three of Moss, Langmead and Murdock dealing with what Macc could throw at them.

With 15-minutes remaining Gary Peters made his second change of the afternoon bringing on Danny Hall to replace Ben Davies, who left the field to a standing ovation after a great performance.

Town were still playing some excellent football and when Ben Herd made an early run down the right the ball was cut out, but Herd kept going and then Langmead played a superb ball into Herd's run to put him away, he kept his run going and had Nicholson and Hibbert running in on goal, Herd hit an excellent early cross that found Hibbert around the penalty spot and hit a great first time volley but it flew agonisingly wide of the target.

Full-time: 2-0