Coca-Cola League Two

A SUPERB double from Jon Parkin helped in-form Macclesfield record their sixth win in a row.

The prolific hitman fired the Silkmen into the lead on the stroke half-time with his 22nd goal of the campaign.

Battling Rovers equalised on 55 minutes but they were level for just six minutes when Parkin grabbed a spectacular second - as good as any in an incredible season for the 23-year-old.

The Barnsley-born forward took Dave Morley's pass on the chest, spun away from his marker and unleashed an unstoppable drive from 25 yards.

'You won't see a better goal than that all season,' said Macc boss Brian Horton. 'He's taken it on the run and it was a fantastic goal.

'He took his first one well right on half-time, but the second one deserved to win any game.'

The Silkmen manager was the first to admit Macc had not been at the best against a determined Bristol outfit. Ian Atkins team are the division's draw specialists - they are one away from a new club record of 17 - and on this display it was easy to see why.

Chances were few and far between in the first half. The home side had the better of the early exchanges without ever really troubling Kevin Miller in the Rovers goal.

Kevin McIntyre twice went close from distance, the second, a 30-yard free-kick, stinging the palms of Miller.

But it was the visitors who should have taken the lead on 24 minutes. Robby Ryan's deflected shot fell to Richard Walker, but his scuffed shot allowed Alan Fettis to save.

Paul Harsley blazed over from six yards before John Miles forced Miller into a fine one-handed stop.

Craig Disley then saw his 45th-minute header cleared off the line by Matt Carragher - and 30 seconds later Macc were ahead. Morley's long ball was flicked on by Mike Sheron, in for the suspended Matty Tipton, and Parkin finished emphatically from 10 yards.

But Bristol were level within 10 minutes of the restart through Elliott. The defender's 30-yard free-kick caught a deflection, though Fettis will have been disappointed to have let the shot slip through his grasp.

The goal seemed to spark the game, and Macc, into life. Parkin restored the Silkmen's advantage but Disley and Walker both went close for Rovers.

Neil MacKenzie struck a post after more good work from Sheron, and Parkin should have made the game safe when he rounded Miller but former Stockport midfielder Aaron Lescott raced back to block his shot.

Graham Potter's close-range effort was cleared off the line, before Ryan headed Harsley's in-swinging corner from under the crossbar.

Elliott had a late effort but Macc held on for three more points.

• MACCLESFIELD: Fettis, Swailes, Carragher, Morley, Harsley, Miles, MacKenzie, McIntyre, Potter, Parkin, Sheron (Whitaker 89). Subs not used: Wilson, Welch, Rooney, Boyd.

• BRISTOL ROVERS: Miller, Lescott, Ryan, Edwards (Shakes 69), Elliott, Hunt, Anderson, Hinton, Walker, Agogo, Disley (Williams 75). Subs not used: Forrester, Haldane, Trollope.

Ref: E. Evans.

Att: 2,114.

Tweet