Macc Town 0 Grimsby Town 1
Macclesfield's unbeaten home run finally came to an end as play-off rivals Grimsby took the three points on Boxing Day.
It was the Silkmen's first loss on home turf since the back end of last season, and means they drop a place and lose ground on leaders Barnet.
Although Macc began well enough they fell behind to a fourth-minute strike and, as has happened many times this season, a returning former Silkman was the man responsible.
Nathan Arnold's low drive was parried by Macc keeper Rhys Taylor but the ball didn't roll to safety and Jack Mackreth, who ended a two-year stay at the Moss Rose with a summer move to the Mariners, pounced to bundle the ball home.
By that stage Macc had already seen a Liam Hogan header pass the post and Waide Fairhurst's shot on the turn fizz over the crossbar, but once they'd fallen behind, failed to trouble James McKeown in the Grimsby goal in the first half and turned around that goal in arrears.
Fairhurst almost produced a moment of magic to level early in the second half, neatly chipping over his marker but putting his finish wide.
Scott Barrow's cross came in from the left to offer the striker another chance but his downward header was hacked to safety by the Grimsby defence. And on a frustrating day for Fairhurst, his claims that McKeown had hurtled 15 yards out of his box to handle the ball and deny him a goalscoring chance went unseen by the officials.
There was little to trouble Taylor in the second half with Grimsby content to soak up any pressure but with Macc unable to find a breakthrough, despite a desperate late chase for a goal, the visitors returned home with the points.
