Hereford United came away from the Moss Rose with a deserved point when a first half Ryan Green first half goal was enough to match Lewis Chalmers reply from the spot in the second period.
Pitman gave a rare start to Waide Fairhurst in a return to a 4-4-2 formation that saw Rob Purdie drop to the bench.
Fleetwood was his usual busy self from the off, closing down a defender to force an early throw before he combined with Fairhurst to produce a chance for Leslie which was deflected for a corner. Colbeck's cross from the right was laid off by Fairhurst but Fleetwood's shot bounced off the bar with former Bulls' stopper Jose Veiga recovering to claim the rebound. At the other end, Draper tested Bartlett but good positioning and a safe pair of hands were more than a match for the shot before Barts again came out on top when dealing with a snap shot from Wedgebury. Fleets combined with Fairhurst again and the Donny striker brought a fine save from Veiga.
The Bulls were playing the better football but the hosts direct style continued to pose occasional problems and Bartlett had to be on his toes to push away a decent effort by Daniel before the home woodwork was to rescue the Silkmen for the second time. Ryan Green fed Colbeck on the right then continued his run to meet the winger’s low cross only to see the ball rebound off the crossbar and into the arms of the waiting Veiga.
As the half hour mark approached, The Bulls won the first free kick of the game when Fairhurst was upended on the edge of the box. He picked himself up to fire a low shot which Veiga was only able to parry away and Ryan Green was on hand to force the ball over the line from close range. Greener obviously has a liking for final match goals. For Macclesfield, Barnett headed wide when well-placed and then Kenny Lunt lifted a shot over the bar, which was rumoured to have landed in Congleton. Not to be outdone, Townsend’s next clearance also found the far side of the turnstiles. As the half drew to a close, Featherstone was unlucky to see his looping shot go just wide with Veiga struggling to make his ground but Fairhurst’s final first half shot was screwed well off target.
HT Silkmen 0 Bulls 1
The Bulls had played the better football in the first half and fully deserved their lead. As the second period started, a moment of indecision by Townsend forced Bartlett to make a smart save from Barnett as the hosts looked to fight their way back into the game. The visitors looked to be weathering the storm when an unfortunate clash involving Townsend and Matty Hamshaw saw the latter tumble in the box and the referee point to the spot. Townsend, perhaps a little unluckily, was given his marching orders before Chalmers stepped up to fire home despite Bartlett getting a hand to the shot.
The dismissal brought an imbalance to the game and Macclesfield were able to make their extra man count as they mounted a concerted effort to grab the three points. Colbeck was sacrificed to make way for Kovacs but it was Ryan Green who kept The Bulls hopes alive with some timely interceptions on the flank. Hamshaw broke into the box but scuffed his shot wide and, for The Bulls, Leslie cut in from the right to send in a stinging shot which Veiga turned round the post before Bartlett brought off another fine full length save to beat away a Hamshaw shot from just inside the box.
Heath started a fine move on the left by advancing past the halfway line and a Lunt/Fairhurst link-up allowed Ryan Green to get in a low shot from the right which Veiga was grateful to see squirm to safety. Pitman replaced Featherstone with Purdie for the final quarter and the energetic McQuilkin came on for Leslie with seven minutes remaining as The Bulls closed out the game to hang on for a fairly comfortable share of the spoils.
FT Silkmen 1 Bulls 1
The first half was a decent spectacle for the visiting 400ish, some in fancy dress, from The Shire but the second period was scrappier, particularly after Towner's departure.
BN man of the match Adam Bartlett.
Hereford: Bartlett, Green, Townsend, Stam, Heath, Colbeck (Kovacs 61), Lunt, Featherstone (Purdie 74), Leslie (McQuilkin 83), Fairhurst, Fleetwood. Subs not used: Hoult, Rose, Canham, Stratford.
Macclesfield: Veiga, Hewitt, Diagne, Brisley, Tremarco, Hamshaw, Chalmers (Gray 87), Draper (Sappleton 80), Wedgbury, Daniel (Roberts 77), Barnett. Subs not used: Cudworth, Reid, Brown, Bencherif.
When's the first friendly?