VANARAMA CONFERENCE
Macclesfield Town 2

Forest Green 2

FOREST Green are three points off the play-offs after veteran striker Lee Hughes stepped off the bench to rescue a point at in-form Macclesfield this afternoon.

Rovers started on the front-foot against a Macclesfied side boasting an unbeaten home record.

A sublime left-footed strike from Elliott Frear,his first for the club,gave Ady Pennock’s side an 11th minute lead from a Sam Wedgbury assist.

However, it was 1-1 in the 52nd minute when Scott Barrow's cross was met by a bullet Paul Lewis header which gave 32-year-old birthday boy Sam Russell no chance.

On-loan striker Christian Jolley had a merited penalty appeal turned down when he went down under Luke Waterfall's challenge This moment looked pivotal when Waide Fairhurst fizzed home on 73 minutes to make it 2-1 for the Cheshire outfit.

Parity from Hughes came five minutes later with his scruffy 25-yard hit slipping through Taylor's hands.

Earlier, Pennock afforded surprise inclusions on the bench in the shape of Magno Vieira in the place of Luke Rodgers and 17-year-old Academy midfielder Lou McGory was drafted in for the first time.

Eddie Oshodi made his first start of the season in central defence in place of the injured Luke Oliver, who hobbled off during the win over Torquay on Saturday.

FOREST Green: S. Russell; D.Pipe, E.Oshodi, D. Coles, M.Kelly; J. Norwood (K.Guthrie 57 ), R. Sinclair, S.Wedgbury, E. Frear; J. Parkin, C.Jolley (L. Hughes 69 ).

Subs not used: D.Bennett, M.Vieira, L. McGrory.

Star Man: Rob Sinclair.

Attendance: 1,329.