Morpeth Town suffered defeat at the hands of Tunde Owolabi, the striker netting a hat-trick as his Macclesfield side won 3-0 at home in the Pitching In NPL Premier Division.
The forward scored in the 14th minute from the spot, before seeing a second spot-kick saved before scoring a 26th minute rebound. He completed his treble in the 74th minute.
Morpeth returned Will Dowling to the heart of midfield after a 4-1 loss at champions-elect Radcliffe as Town ended a punishing week and 691 miles of travelling across the country in four days.
Josh King was also back in the starting XI, with Michael Turner moving to left back, and Vinnie Steels was given a start after scoring on Tuesday night.
The game started in chaotic fashion with the Highwaymen spread too thin and allowing too much space for the pace of Neil Kengni and Kane Drummond to exploit.
Keeper Dan Lowson, once again impressive throughout, denied the latter with his feet in the first minute before Danny Barlow blasted an eighth minute strike well off target from distance.
Town were starting to find their feet when Turner inadvertently lost his in the 14th minute, catching a Macclesfield player in the face from a set-piece as he fell resulting in a penalty that Owolabi, the former FC United striker, put into the bottom corner.
Town, although dangerously exposed at times, were much more settled and passed the ball well enough, maintaining possession for good spells.
That was until the award of a hugely debatable second penalty for the home side. With Dowling coming out to meet Paul Dawson and no challenge offered, the midfielder took his chance to tumble to the floor and earn a spot-kick.
Lowson saved this one but the rebound fell kindly for Owolabi to net for a second time.
The next goal in the contest was always going to be crucial and Kengni nearly had it in the early stages of the second period.
The quick winger blasted a near post shot but Lowson somehow managed to push it on to the post to deny him.
Seconds later, Barlow once again blazed over the top as Town sought a foothold. But a bizarre miss would follow on 56 minutes when Owolabi capitalised on a defensive mix-up to see an open goal in front of him.
Inexplicably he tamely rolled the ball to goal, allowing captain Jeff Henderson to control and clear easily.
Town were still knocking the ball around nicely and it was neat 61st minute play that found Steels on the edge of the box; his shot was deflected over the bar.
With the Highwaymen over-committing in search of a route back into the game, it gave space for Tre Pemberton, who impressed at full-back, the chance to cross for the unmarked Owolabi to head home his hat-trick goal on 74 minutes.
Fenton John, a constant source of energy in midfield, had a 79th minute shot pushed over the top by Macc keeper Joe Hilton.
But it wouldn’t affect the outcome as Macclesfield maintained their play-off push, while Morpeth remained mid-table.
MACCLESFIELD: Hilton, Pemberton, Lee, Baker, Heathcote, Dawson, Kengni, Perry, Drummond, Owolabi, Duffy.
SUBS: Lafferty, Mendy, Dixon, Clare, Sweeney.
MORPETH TOWN: Lowson, Robson, Turner (Reid 60’; (Bollado 67’)), Dowling, Henderson (c), King, Foalle (Johnson 62’), Barlow, Hodgson, Bollado, Steels.
SUBS: Wombwell, Donaldson.
ATT: 2,072
