Sammy McIlroy returned to Moss Rose to heap yet more pressure on current Macclesfield boss Ian Brightwell as his Morecambe side won 2-1.An 85th-minute goal from Garry Thompson extended Macclesfield's winless streak to nine games and left the Cheshire team hovering above the relegation zone.

To make matters worse for the beleaguered home side, it was a self-inflicted goal as Malta defender Luke Dimech sliced a clearance onto his own crossbar and Thompson crashed home the rebound.

Macclesfield wasted the chance to take the lead in the 18th minute when Shrimps skipper Jim Bentley barged Danny Thomas in the back only for Martin Gritton to send a weak penalty into the waiting arms of Scott Loach. However Gritton made amends from four yards five minutes later when set up by strike partner Gareth Evans.

The lead was short-lived with Thompson picking out the unmarked Matt Blinkhorn in the 29th minute and the former Blackpool man slid home a 15-yard shot.

Macc's teenager Christian Millar nearly marked his debut with a goal in the 48th minute, only to be denied from close range by the outstanding Loach.

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