Silkmen and Shrimpers stalemate

Macclesfield moved a point closer to League Two safety with a gutsy defensive display to hold Southend to a 0-0 draw.

The point leaves the Silkmen needing just a point to be certain of avoiding the drop as they are six points ahead of second-bottom Barnet with two games remaining. Macclesfield nearly grabbed all three points when hard-working striker Tyrone Barnett clipped the top of the crossbar in the 81st minute with a powerful drive from the edge of the box. However, it was their goalkeeper Jose Veiga who had the busier afternoon. In the 36th minute he stopped a Ryan Hall free-kick at the second attempt and four minutes later he tipped a fizzing drive from Lee Sawyer over the bar. Macclesfield also had their chances, with Colin Daniel firing wide after only two minutes and Hamza Bencherif nearly grabbing his 12th for the season from midfield with a powerful half-volley that slipped past the far post. Veiga was also at his best in the second half, clawing wide a shot from a narrow angle by Barry Corr before blocking a 10-yard bullet from Hall.