Macclesfield Town 0 Rotherham United 0: Rotherham thwarted by goalkeeper Veiga

It was a match which scarcely raised the fans’ Boxing Day spirits, having featured few clear-cut goalscoring chances on a bitterly cold Cheshire afternoon.

The Millers thought they had snatched it late on, but the woodwork denied substitute Brett Williams.

Midfielder Gareth Evans returned to the Millers’ starting line-up following injury, with manager Andy Scott relegating loanee Williams to the bench.

Jon Harley went close for the visitors as his dipping shot from well over 30 yards forced home goalkeeper Jos Veiga into a smart diving save.

Veiga was in good form early on, as he then got down low to beat away Alex Revell’s low drive.

Millers goalkeeper Conrad Logan was called into action just before the break as he turned away a fierce shot from Colin Daniel.

Veiga was to thwart the visitors again as top scorer Lewis Grabban dived in at the far post but saw the goalkeeper save superbly.

Danny Schofield then went close as yet again Veiga blocked a goal-bound shot from just inside the box.

With time running out the Millers thought they were about to nick a priceless victory, only for Williams to see a cracking drive thump the crossbar.

Macclesfield: Veiga, Bateson, Brown, Brisley, Tremarco (Fairhurst 80), Diagne, Draper, Daniel, Wedgbury, Hamshaw, Donnelly.Unused substitutes: Morgan, Hewitt, Mendy, Fisher.

Rotherham: Logan, Tonge, Raynes, Mullins (Brown 56), Harley, Evans (Williams 76), Harrison, Schofield, Wood, Revell, Grabban. Unused substitutes: Warrington, Marshall, Taylor.

Referee: S Mathieson (Cheshire).