Barnet have seen their lead at the top of the Conference Premier table reduced to three points after they lost 2-1 to Macclesfield Town at Moss Rose.

Jon Nurse had the first opportunity for the visitors when he forced a decent save out of goalkeeper Rhys Taylor, but the Bees should have taken the lead after 13 minutes through Sam Hoskins but he directed a first-time shot over the crossbar.

Macclesfield provided a brief reply through Waide Fairhurst, but Barnet continued to dominate the opening 45 minutes as former Chelsea stopper Taylor single-handedly kept the Londoners at bay.

Barnet through they had the lead shortly before the half-time whistle but John Akinde's goal was ruled out for offside, much to the delight of the home crowd.

However, soon after the restart, it was Macclesfield who broke the deadlock through Scott Barrow, who unleashed a ferocious 30-yard strike that found the top corner of the net for his first goal of the season.

Taking a shock lead failed to stem the tide that was coming from Barnet, and Akinde, Hoskins and Adam Mekki were all denied before the hour mark.

The away side were left to rue the missed chances as Macclesfield doubled their lead midway through the second half when Chris Holroyd glanced Fairhurst's cross into the bottom corner.

Barnet finally got on the score sheet with 13 minutes remaining when Akinde rose highest inside the penalty area to head home a Togwell cross to set up a tense final quarter of an hour.

Lee Cook and Curtis Weston both had chances for Barnet but after they failed to level the score, Macclesfield held on to hand their opponents just their third defeat of the campaign.