Macc the knife

United had their promotion hopes severely dented by relegation threatened Macclesfield at the KasStad this afternoon. Throughout the game it was unclear which was the team at the bottom of the table as the Silkmen outfought and outpassed United, who looked nervous and hesitant. It was no surprise when the visitors took the lead when a 39th minute Matthew Tipton shot took a severe deflection off the back of Matt Bound and looped into the net. In fact the shot was going wide so it should properly be credited as an own goal. Despite huffing and puffing United never really looked like getting back into the game and, indeed, had goalkeeper Andy Woodman to thank for producing three or four very good saves.

Woodman, who only had his 42 stitches removed on Thursday, reclaimed his jersey from goalkeeping coach Alan Judge, while up front Steve Basham came in for Lee Steele, whose knee injury has ruled him out for the remainder of the season. At half time United switched to 4-4-2 with ROS Chris Hackett replacing Andy Crosby who was, presumably, ill or injured, with Bobby Ford taking over the captain's armband. Just before the hour Paul Powell came on for the impressive Dave Savage, and United certainly missed his passion and commitment for the final half hour. Twelve minutes later Manny Omoyinmi received a rare chance to impress as he came on for Matt Robinson, but it was to no avail as United rarely threatened the Macclesfield goal.

Referee Phil Joslin, who was in charge of United's League Cup game at Charlton as well as the recent home defeat to Wrexham, booked Jefferson Louis for persistent fouling. The attendance of 5,691 was boosted by lots of schoolchildren watching the final of the Under-9s five-a-side tournament between Kirtlington and St Ebbes (won 2-0 by Kirtlington, by the way). We reproduce Hampshire Hog's match report here.

United have slipped just one place to eighth as a result of this defeat, one point away from the play-offs, as fortunately most of the relevant results went their way today. Macclesfield have climbed two places to 19th, two points above the relegation zone. Leaders Hartlepool slipped up again, going down 1-0 at Bristol Rovers, who are now 20th, and second placed Rushden drew 1-1 at Boston, who now find themselves in 18th place. Bournemouth have moved back to third despite being held to a 1-1 draw at home by Torquay, who are 11th. Scunthorpe slipped to fourth after losing 1-0 at home to Darlington in 16th place while York and Wrexham, in fifth and sixth place respectively, fought out a 1-1 draw in Wales. United's next opponents, Bury, moved above the Us to seventh after beating Lincoln, in tenth spot, 2-0.

Kidderminster remain one place below Oxford, in ninth, after being held to a 1-1 draw by the league's bottom team, Swansea. Cambridge moved up to 12th after beating third-bottom Carlisle 1-0 in Cumbria, while Hull remain just below them following their 2-0 win over Shrewsbury, who have slipped to fourth from bottom. Exeter remain 23rd after they drew 1-1 with 15th placed Rochdale, while the mid-table battle between Southend and Orient ended with a 1-0 win for the Essex boys.