Darlington missed a chance to go third in the table with a 1-1 draw at Moss Rose in front of the Sky Sports cameras last night.

Quakers' second-half performance was much better than their first half display and they deserved at least a point after dominating the second half.

Until Lee Nogan's third goal of the season with 20 minutes left, they were not sharp enough in the Macclesfield penalty area to turn their chances into goals.

The game was a low key affair in the opening stages with neither keeper really tested.

Quakers easily defended a free kick by Kieron Durkan from the corner of the box, then Gary Himsworth cleared an in-swinging corner from the same player.

Visiting keeper Andy Collett came confidently off his line to hold a dangerous right-wing cross from John Askey.

Quakers created the first real chance after 15 minutes, when Martin Gray crossed well from the right for Nogan to glance a header wide from six yards.

A rare defensive mistake allowed Macclesfield to open the scoring a minute later.

Jesper Hjorth lost possession of the ball to Richie Barker just outside his own area, Adam Reed completely missed his clearance then Sedgemore took advantage to sweep the ball past the stranded Collett.

Quakers nearly levelled five minutes later.

Nogan cleverly found Glenn Naylor on a diagonal run into the box, and after the midfielder rounded keeper Tony Bullock, he put the ball over the top from a tight angle, under pressure from defender George Abbey.

They had another chance after 24 minutes when Hjorth tried a volley from 25 yards which flew wide of the post. With neither side showing enough invention in the opposition penalty area, goalmouth action came in short supply, although Durkan nearly sneaked a second with a curling free kick.

The persistant Nogan nearly levelled for the Quakers just before the break when he charged past three defenders into the area, but covering centre-half Rae Ingram blocked his shot.

With Mark Angel on for Hjorth, Quakers started the second half better, forcing four corners - one of which ended with Stuart Elliott blazing the ball over the top.

The midfielder nearly gave away a second when his careless clearance let in Askey, and he in turn set up Karl Munroe, who then had two shots blocked by Craig Liddle.

Quakers had a chance after 53 minutes when Elliott fired in a low free-kick from the right, which Nogan headed wide.

That sparked a good spell of pressure for Quakers and manager Gary Bennett took off Ton Kaak and sent on Richard Hodgson, pushing Naylor up front in the process.

And the move almost paid off when Naylor forced a mistake out of Darren Tinson, but Nogan screwed his shot wide.

Naylor was unlucky to see another effort go wide after Gray won the ball, then Elliott forced Bullock into a good save from 30 yards.

Quakers pressure finally paid off after 70 minutes. Hodgson beat two men as he cut in from the left and set up Nogan, who controlled the ball and as he homed in on keeper Bullock, placed the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Macclesfield manager Peter Davenport then sent on former Quakers' midfielder Gary Twynham after 76 minutes and within a minute he set up Lee Glover who fired a right foot shot over the top from the edge of the area.

However, Quakers thought they should have had a penalty when Nogan received a pass from Naylor and appeared to be fouled by Sedgemore, but the referee waved play on.

The dangerous Nogan nearly snatched a winner with three minutes left but his right foot shot skimmed the bar.