MACCLESFIELD Town face a relegation dog-fight after they slumped to their third successive 1-0 league defeat.

Once again, the killer goal came right at the death as Macc's Mr Reliable Dave Ridler slipped to let York on-loan striker Michael Proctor in on goal.

Though keeper Steve Wilson had made a stunning save to block a Proctor penalty on 55 minutes, this time the Sunderland man was not to be denied, coolly stroking under the despairing dive of Wilson with only 30 seconds left on the clock.

The defeat left caretaker player manager Kevin Keen scratching his head: ''I don't know what to say. I said it all last Saturday and then again last Tuesday. We're just going through one of those patches when nothing seems to go right for us.''

He added: ''I feel sorry for Steve Wilson especially after he made such a great save, but I feel most disappointed for Dave Ridler. I thought we deserved a 0-0. In the second half, Alan Fettis had to make three or four good saves.''

He then appealed for the club not to panic, arguing: ''There are still 30 games left. That's a long long way to go. We've just got to get together as a group of players and work our socks off. Our injured players will start coming back into contention next week.''

Shaky start

Macclesfield started shakily and in the 6th minute Wilson pulled off a good low stop to deny a bobbling Proctor strike.

Playing on a rutted pitch more suited to rugby league close control was always difficult, but in the 13th minute Lee Glover turned sharply before forcing a confident low save from Fettis.

York started to get hold of the game towards the break and on the half hour midfield man Richard Cooper slid the ball into the path of Proctor who was again denied from 20 yards by the agile Wilson.

Wilson was again on top form in the 38th minute finger-tipping a Lee Bullock blockbuster inches over the bar.

York squandered a golden opportunity two minutes after the break when Lee Nogan sent a pinpoint cross into the danger area only for Proctor to slash the ball wildly over the bar from 6 yards. Proctor then missed an even better opportunity from the penalty spot after skipper Darren Tinson had crudely brought down Nogan from behind. But Wilson guessed right blocking Proctor's drive low to his right.

Macclesfield's best passage of football came after the hour with Lambert planting a free kick 20 yards wide before seeing a long-range looping header finger-tipped over the cross bar.

But the youngster's best strike came in the 67 minute when his sweet right foot 25 yard curler was palmed agonisingly wide. Glover then tested Fettis with a snapshot from 15 yards that cannoned up off the keeper's outstretched legs before falling back into his grateful grasp.

Macclesfield looked set to record their fifth goal-less draw of the season only for Ridler to fall over his own shoelaces allowing Proctor an opportunity that not even he could fluff.

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