Conference Premier leaders Barnet dominated the first half at Macclesfield Town but have failed to break the deadlock at Moss Rose.

Both teams struggled to gain an early stranglehold of the game, but Jon Nurse went closest for the visitors when he forced Rhys Taylor to push his shot away for a corner.

Sam Hoskins also wasted an opportunity for the visitors when he sent a first-time effort over the crossbar, but Macclesfield improved as the half reached the midway point, with Waide Fairhurst drawing a solid stop out of Graham Stack.

That turned out to be a rare attack from the hosts before they came under pressure from the Bees as Nurse and Sam Togwell both brought further interventions out of former Chelsea stopper Taylor.

With five minutes remaining until the half-time whistle, Barnet had the ball in the net but John Akinde's effort was ruled out for offside as Macclesfield held out until the break.