Macclesfield suffered defeat to county rivals Chester with goals from top scorer Dylan Mottley-Henry and Jack Bainbridge.

Chester came away from Moss Rose with three points for the first time since 2015 and for just the third time in their last ten visits, completing the double over the Silkmen for the first time since 2004/05.

The hosts had the first chance of the game, when a Luke Duffy free kick was headed into the grasp of the Chester goalkeeper by James Gale after just 58 seconds.

James Gale would go close again when a poor goal kick from Chester's Bobby Jones found Josh Kay, and Gale would just head over from a Luis Lacey cross.

The Macclesfield pressure would not avail however, as a long kick from Jones went straight through the Silkmen backline, with Heathcote and Ravenhill leaving the ball for each other, before Chester's top scorer Dylan Mottley-Henry tapped it past the 'keeper for his fifth goal in his last seven games.

Shouts for a penalty for the Silkmen was waved away by the referee when Kay seemed to be pulled down by one of the Chester defenders, and the first half ended with five fiery minutes of injury time.

Changing three of the back four and the system at halftime were a tell about how John Rooney felt the first half went.

Macclesfield welcomed Chester to the Leasing.com Stadium on Monday, April 6 (Credit: Oliver Evans)

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The second half started with a distinct lack of chances for both sides, with the only chance in the first ten minutes being Matheson being beat to an Edmondson free kick by the Chester goalie.

The Silkmen would finally break through a strong Chester defensive line when Edmondson played a short free kick into the feet of Anjola Popoola, who found Buckley-Ricketts, but his tame shot was easily collected by the goalkeeper.

Macclesfield would go close again minutes later, when Duffy sent a corner into a dangerous position, but strikes from Pasiek and two from Dawson were well defended by Chester.

The Seals would go up the other end with a quick break, and a pinpoint cross was headed past Rogan Ravenhill by Jack Bainbridge to give Chester a two-goal advantage, matching the scoreline when the teams faced off in December.

Chester could have made it three with five minutes to go, when Tom Peers chipped the Macc keeper and could only find the head of Fin Roberts, who headed into the post from point-blank range.

Luke Duffy would fire a free kick just over the bar with a few minutes left to play, and Anjola Popoola's one-on-one miss just about summed up a difficult Monday afternoon for Macclesfield.

The Silkmen travel to South Wales to face Merthyr Town on Saturday as they look to cement their place in the playoffs.