The new-era Macclesfield are spreading optimism as they head towards the big non-league kick-off at Hereford.

Although hosts Colwyn Bay provided what was, on paper, Macc’s sternest tes of the summer, there was little to really trouble Andrew Mills in the Silkmen’s goal.

Not much more than a spectator, Mills was protected by Sam Wedgbury at right-back, Craig Braham-Barrett on the opposite flank, and a central pairing of Arnaud Mendy and Nat brown.

And it was Brown who struck five minutes in to put Macc ahead.

Neat interplay between Kieran Murtagh and Peter Winn saw the winger loft the ball into the box, Brown rising highest and strongest to plant his header beyond Seagulls stopper Matt Nemes.

The hosts from the Blue Square Bet North side did test Mills through Paul Ennis, but Mills got down well to his right to get a firm hand in the way of his low drive.

Winn almost added to his summer tally with five minutes to go until the break, when his sweeping pass out to Jack Mackreth culminated in the capture from Barrow returning the favour.

Although Winn’s finish was firmly struck, the alert Luke Denson was in the right spot to deny him a goal.

Kieran Murtagh was also close when he advanced beyond the forwards to collect a pass from Junior Yiadom, his lob clearing Nemes but also bypassing the far post.

The wingers once again linked up for Mackreth to take aim and fire, but he was denied by a second goal-line clearance.

The front pair of Ben Tomlinson and Waide Fairhurst each had half-chances, the former resulting from his chasing of a seemingly lost cause and the latter a header without the power to beat Nemes, and it took until 20 minutes were left on the clock before Fairhurst took the opportunity to get on the scoresheet.

The goal came from the spot, Jack Mackreththe man to earn the penalty after he got to the byline.

His pull-back was patted behind by Denson and Fairhurst found the bottom corner from 12 yards. It was his last action of the afternoon as he made way before the restart, Matthew Barnes-Homer replacing him.

The former Rochdale man couldn’t get a goal of his own during his short outing, seeing his header from a Harry Agombar cross saved.

And, although Arthur Gnahova was off-target with a late shot, his neat skill leaving his defender grasping at thin air, it was a good workout for Steve King’s men.

"I wouldn’t say there were any negatives from today but there are a few things to work on," said first-team coach Colin Reid.

"We’re seeing things all the time but we’re building up our fitness and building our team spirit and that’s all pre-season is.

"It gives the players a chance to play and lets us look at different systems and different players within those systems and lets us get a little bit of momentum going as we head towards the start of the season."

MACC: Mills, Wedgbury, Brown, Mendy, Braham-Barrett, Mackreth, Yiadom, Murtagh, Winn, Tomlinson, Fairhurst. Subs : Barnes-Homer, Costa, Gnahova*, Henry, Agombar, Chalmers*, Martin*, Bolton, Jerome Federico*, Burgess.