Coca-Cola League Two

WHAT a difference a year makes. A little less than 12 months ago the Silkmen traveled to Rochdale in the midst of a relegation battle.

The Moss Rose outfit won on that day back in April to help move towards safety with, aptly, Matty Tipton scoring twice. The Macclesfield skipper was again the match-winner in Saturday's important game - but for very different reasons with both side's chasing promotion.

Tipton's superb hat-trick ensured the Silkmen once again took the honours, a result which takes them into joint-third spot with Swansea.

Indeed, such has been their rich vein of form expectations have soared at Moss Rose. Five weeks ago, with the team languishing in ninth, Brian Horton would surely have settled for a play-off spot.

But only the most pessimistic of supporters will not now be eyeing the automatic spots, and hoping the Silkmen came emulate the 1998 promotion-winning side.

Macc were given the perfect start after only eight minutes. Jon Parkin chested down Dave Morley's cross and Tipton hit a sweet left-foot volley from 20 yards.

Tipton second came just four minutes later. The striker ran on to Paul Harsley's long ball before unselfishly trying to square for Parkin. Dale defender Gareth Griffiths intercepted but only succeeded into diverting back into Tipton's path and he finished from six-yards out.

The captain could have had his hat-trick when Neil MacKenzie clever pass put him clear but Matthew Gilkes produced a fine stop with his feet.

Dale's 21-goal hitman Grant Holt was superbly marshaled by Danny Swailes, while new Rickie Lambert was disappointing on his return to Moss Rose. The ex-Silkmen was a shadow of his former self in his first start for Rochdale and his hopeful effort on the half-hour mark summed up an ineffective afternoon.

Credit, though, should go to Swailes, Morley and the excellent Matt Carragher, as Macc kept their fourth clean sheet in seven games.

After the break, the visitors struggled to create a clear-cut opening, and it was Macc who looked the more likely to score again.

Jon Parkin and Morley both went close, the latter with a spectacular 35-yard effort. Parkin then headed straight at Gilks after a brilliant run and cross from John Miles, making his first start since December 4.

But it was left to Tipton to wrap up matters in injury-time when he played a neat one-two with Parkin before smashing the ball past Gilks to complete his hat-trick.

• MACCLESFIELD: Fettis, Swailes, Carragher, Morley, Harsley, Miles, MacKenzie, McIntyre, Potter, Tipton, Parkin. Subs not used: Wilson, Sheron, Welch, Whitaker, Boyd. Booked: Morley, Tipton.

• ROCHDALE: Gilks, Burgess, Griffiths, Heald, Gallimore, Warner, Clarke (Richardson 69), Jones, Bertos, Lambert, Holt (Tait 70). Subs not used: Woodhall, McGivern, Gibbins. Booked: Griffiths.

Ref: Mike Pike (Cumbria).

Att: 3,031.

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