MACCLESFIELD Town scrambled their first home win of the season to jump five places up Division Three.

Playing in front of the SKY TV cameras, youngsters Michael Welch and Danny Whitaker will have done much to increase their value, but it was stalwart keeper Steve Wilson who took the manager's plaudits.

But for his acrobatic 88th minute save, the Silkmen would have squandered yet more points at the give-away Moss Rose.

A weary David Moss was grateful after a nail-biting finish.

"Steve Wilson is a very, very underrated keeper," he said. "In fact, I don't think there is anyone better in Division Three. He always come up trumps. Just when you think there's nothing to be done, he pulls out a save.

"We've conceded far more goals than I would have liked but none has been down to Steve Wilson.

Gift

"Macc were gifted the opening goal in the eighth minute when Rovers centre back, Anwar Uddin, clumsily barged into Kyle Lightbourne. Matthew Tipton duly converting the penalty.

The home side then went into cruise control with the second on 17 minutes, Tipton deflecting a fierce shot from Danny Whitaker into the path of Chris Byrne, who casually moved the ball on to his left peg before drilling home.

Rovers looked out of sorts and only in the 43rd minute did they come near to scoring, Paul Tait heading narrowly wide.

But Macc faced an agonising last 20 minutes after Simon Bryant picked out the unmarked Wayne Carlisle to score.

Match facts



MACCLESFIELD: Wilson 9, Ridler 6, Tinson 7, Welch 8, Hitchen 7, Byrne 8 (Hardy, 60 7), Priest 7, Whitaker 8, Adams 7, Lightbourne 6, Tipton 7 (Robinson, 80 6). Subs not used: Martin, Askey, Welsh.

BRISTOL ROVERS: Howie, Boxall, Uddin, Barrett, Challis, Carlisle, Quinn, Hogg (Bryant, 54), McKeever 5 (Warren, 42), Grazioli (Richards, 62), Tait 7.

GOALS: Macclesfield - Tipton (10, pen), Byrne 17. Bristol R - Carlisle (72).

ATTENDANCE: 1,814

REFEREE: Walton Long (Buckby) 8.

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