Macc rally to deny O'Kelly

Richard O'Kelly was denied a winning start as Hereford boss as Macclesfield fought back to secure a 2-2 draw at Moss Rose.

The Bulls made a breathtaking start when Will Evans picked out the bottom corner from 20 yards in the opening seconds. Macc nearly grabbed an equaliser in the 18th minute when a Mark Connolly drive was palmed wide by David Cornell but Evans repeated his early heroics with a 25-yard drive into the same corner after 25 minutes. He was denied a hat-trick by a superb stop from Richard O'Donnell shortly after the half hour and Tom Barkhuizen again nearly made it three as half time approached, but was thwarted by the on-loan Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper's outstretched leg. Macc got back into the game in the 47th minute when Sam Wedgbury converted George Donnelly's cross with a clinical low volley at the far post. The Silkmen might have equalised in the 55th minute but Cornell saved Tony Diagne's header on the line, before Hereford substitute Sam Clucas tested O'Donnell at the other end. Matthew Hamshaw then picked out the top corner in the 78th minute with a pin point shot to earn a deserved point for Gary Simpson's side.