Darlington are up and running in National Three North after averting what threatened to become a crisis with their first win of the season.

Going into the match on minus two points after failing to play at Fylde last week, their lightweight pack produced a very plucky display to cash in on Macclesfield's generosity.

The visitors created more chances but managed to spurn the lot through a combination of their own sloppiness and some brilliant last-ditch defence.

Darlington sorted out the front row problems which caused the previous week's cry-off, with Paul Shepherd doing well for the first 50 minutes before making way for the other new prop, Simon Orr, to sustain Darlington when they were in danger of flagging.

The return of hooker Dan Osleton alongside his brother Joe also made a big difference, with the extra bonus that it released Rob Goddard to play a lively role at blind side in the continued absence of Andrew Carphin.

On paper the back row looked fragile, but Tom Wilkinson also did some good things at No 8 in support of the tireless Martin Howe.

The defensive highlights were provided by the Lee brothers, Paul and Craig, as Macclesfield threatened to come back from 15-6 down midway through the second half.

A high-speed counter-attack from halfway seemed certain to take them over in the left corner, only for Paul to produce a stunning tackle just short of the line.

Then in the identical spot Craig, playing at full back, snatched the ball off centre Steve Campbell as he tried to step inside him at full tilt.

For the home fans it was a comical piece of blatant burglary, but for Campbell it was the final straw on a day when he could easily have had a hat-trick.

All gifts were gratefully received by Darlington after being fined £450 to compensate Fylde as well as having two points deducted for a game which has been rearranged for February 21.

Macclesfield's first blunder came after five minutes when the right winger dropped the ball with the line at his mercy.

They dominated for ten minutes, but then powerful centre Tosh McIntee made a break for Darlington, scrum half Rob Stewart followed up and Joe Osleton burrowed over.

The prop almost got over again in the right corner before Macclesfield broke away at pace and wasted an overlap.

Two penalties by visiting fly half Gary Bell meant his side trailed only 7-6 at half-time and Darlington almost made the line on the restart, when a Macclesfield lock was sin-binned for killing the ball.

Darlington were on top at this point and after another McIntee burst, supported by Goddard, they kicked a penalty to the corner and Paul Lee lost the ball just as he was about to cross the line. Macclesfield were penalised at the scrum and Dave Haswell landed the penalty.

Darlington went further ahead after 55 minutes when good handling up the right put winger Frankie Coulson clear with 30 metres to go. He was tackled just short but wasn't held and scrambled over.

As against Dudley, who took all their chances so clinically two weeks earlier, there were signs of Darlington wilting but Macclesfield simply couldn't finish anything off.

Darlington made sure of victory when Howe gathered a kick ahead just inside the Macclesfield half and put in a clever kick to the left corner, where winger Paul Beattie completed an otherwise unhappy return by dribbling over to score. Haswell added an excellent conversion to raise hopes that Darlington may have found a goal-kicker.

Result: Darlington 22, Macclesfield 6.