Two goals from Matthew Barnes-Homer helped Macclesfield Town return to second place in the Conference Premier with a 5-1 victory at Alfreton Town.

Despite 18 places separating the two teams in the table, it was fourth-from-bottom Alfreton who went in front in the sixth minute.

After Andy Halls had committed a foul inside the area, Bradley Wood stepped up to put away the resulting spot kick.

However, Macclesfield got back on level terms 11 minutes later through Barnes-Homer, who ran clear of the defence before slotting home his fourth goal of the season.

The equaliser handed Macclesfield the momentum, and, after Barnes-Homer had driven wide and George Pilkington had seen a header cleared off the line, they edged in front shortly before the half-hour mark.

A mix-up in the Alfreton defence allowed Waide Fairhurst to move forward, before playing the ball to Barnes-Homer to net his second of the match from close range.

With nine minutes of the half remaining, Danny Whitaker made it three when he scored his third of the campaign with an unstoppable 25-yard strike which put his side in full control at the break.

Soon after the restart, Macclesfield all but assured the three points when Chris Holroyd reacted fastest to tap home from close range after Fairhurst had seen his shot saved by George Willis.

Midway through the half, a rampant Macclesfield had a chance of a fifth when Barnes-Homer was hauled down in the penalty area, but Willis, who is on loan from Sheffield United, kept the deficit at three with a fine save from Fairhurst.

After the game had entered the final 10 minutes, Macclesfield finally found their fifth through Denny Johnstone, as he got on the end of a cross from Halls to poke home his first goal for the club.