Macclesfield hopes of league survival were dealt a killer blow by Northampton's four goals in 39 minutes from Cobblers striker Marc Richards.
Having only scored one league goal all season Richards buried four in a ruthless first-half display. His performance left manager Colin Calderwood purring with delight: "Everything that has gone wrong for Marc Richards this season went right for him today. His finishing was cool and calculated and took the game away from Macclesfield." Colin Calderwood conceded however: "Alongside Richards, Lee Harper kept us in the game with some excellent saves." Macclesfield manager John Askey was understandably less content: "We made four defensive mistakes today that cost us the game. Michael Welch was at fault with the first and it was Steve Wilson's mistake for the second.
"Michael Carr was left exposed for the third and it was Steve Payne's blunder that cost us the fourth. We are in the position we are because we cannot keep a clean sheet." The rout started in the 18th minute when Eric Sabin prized open the home defence releasing Richards to poke under Wilson from eight yards.
Wilson then misjudged a long-range punt from his opposite number and was stranded in no mans lands as Richards cooly stroked home from 25 yards. Former Norwich wide man Robert Ullathorne set up the third, Richards crashing home off the inside of the near post from the edge of the box.
Worse was to follow for the down cast Macc fans as Payne presented Richards with his fourth, the youngster galloping in on goal before squeezing a shot round the floundering Wilson. Macc too had their chances in the first half but Lee Harper was on top form tipping a Paul Harsley drive wide in the seventh minute and blocking a Steve Payne volley in the 18th minute.
Macc played with more pride after the break but could find little quality up front as both Jonathan Parkin and Matthew Tipton blasted wide when it would have been easier to score.