Macclesfield 1-3 Cheltenham

Cheltenham came from behind to beat Macclesfield and move top of the League Two table.

The hosts went ahead when Matthew Hamshaw's cross found Marcus Marshall at the back post, who poked the ball beyond keeper Scott Brown's reach.

Sido Jombati levelled the score from close range and Jeff Goulding gave the Robins the lead after half-time with a superb drive into the bottom corner.

Luke Garbutt's deflected free-kick late on sealed the win for Cheltenham.

Everton loanee Garbutt went close to claiming his first goal for the Robins early on, but keeper Jose Veiga forced his 25-yard free-kick wide.

Colin Daniel put his effort inches wide for the home side before debutant Marshall got on the end of Hamshaw's diagonal ball to put Macc ahead.

But their lead lasted just seven minutes as Alan Bennett's header found Jombati, who slammed home.

Cheltenham dominated the second half and went ahead when Goulding converted a neat Brian Smikle pass.

Keeper Brown denied Ben Mills a first senior goal when he palmed the youngster's header wide before Garbutt finished the game off deep in injury time with a free-kick that deflected heavily off Marshall.

Mark Yates' side now sit three points clear at the summit of League Two, although they have played a game more than Southend and Crawley in second and third respectively.

Macclesfield drop three places to 19th - eight points off the relegation zone.

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Macclesfield boss Gary Simpson told BBC Radio Manchester:

"I don't think we got what we deserved today.

"We've lost to two contentious refereeing decisions and a deflected free-kick but I can't fault anyone's effort out there.

"Marcus Marshall has come in on loan and I'm pleased he's got a goal on his debut. We've been looking for someone to attack crosses at the back post and that's what he's done.

"There was a Premier League scout here today and he said to me there's not much between the two sides. Given the amount of injuries we've got I think that says everything about our performance."

Cheltenham Town assistant manager Neil Howarth told BBC Gloucestershire:

"We knew with the fixtures that were played today that at least a draw would have moved us top.

"We would have been disappointed if we weren't where we are. It's got a nice ring to it.

"They've been excellent all week in training but you don't know how they are going to respond off the back of a defeat.

"We came from a goal down and in the second half we dominated and were back to our best."

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