Second half goals from Matt Fish and Chris Whelpdale helped Gillingham to a morale boosting win that keeps their play-off hopes alive.
With Crewe drawing 1-1 with Northampton and Oxford United losing 2-1 at home to Morecambe, Saturday’s victory takes Gillingham to within four points of Cheltenham Town in seventh place with six games to go.
Matt Fish was on hand to fire home his first goal of the season on 51 minutes (well, his first at the right end) and Chris Whelpdale wrapped up victory as he headed home Danny Spiller’s cross with just five minutes left on the clock.
In truth, it wasn’t the most entertaining of games, but does it really matter at this stage of the season?
Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler made just the one change to the side that lost at Burton Albion with Danny Kedwell deemed fit enough to start as Jordan Obita dropped to the bench.
The game started in lively fashion and the home side could have been one up within three minutes, but for the woodwork as Chris Whelpdale saw his low drive cannon off the post.
Macclesfield wasted guilt edged chances to take the lead themselves as Matt Smith and Arnaud Mendy were guilty of missing headers when well placed.
At the other end, Nat Brown was in just the right place to deny Kedwell, clearing off the line to see the two sides go in level at the break.
Just six minutes into the second period and Lewis Montrose teed up Fish for his first goal in Gills colours, much to the relief of the Rainham End.
Gillingham had to soak up some pressure from the visitors and they were indebted to keeper Paulo Gazzaniga who kept them in it with a few decent saves, one in particular to prevent Vinny Mukendi.
With just five minutes left, Whelpdale was in the right place to power home Danny Spiller’s cross with a diving header to put the result beyond doubt.
There was even time for Spiller to be denied a goal, albeit it seemed to have been a well taken goal but for an offside flag.
FULL TIME: GILLINGHAM 2-0 MACCLESFIELD
Gillingham now have six days to prepare for their trip to Bristol Rovers on Good Friday with Dagenham & Redbridge to visit Priestfield on Easter Monday.
Gillingham line up: Paulo Gazzaniga, Matt Fish, Connor Essam, Andy Frampton, Joe Martin, Chris Whelpdale, Jack Payne, Lewis Montrose, Danny Jackman (Danny Spiller 78), Jo Kuffour (Rowan Vine 72), Danny Kedwell.
Subs not used: Simon King, Jordan Obita, Ashley Miller.
Goals: Fish (51), Whelpdale (85).
Booked: Frampton (38).
Macclesfield line up: Richard O’Donnell, Joe Bateson (Marcus Marshall 63), Nat Brown, Lewis Chalmers (Ross Draper 67), Vinny Mukendi (Michael Bakare 67), Colin Daniel, Arnaud Mendy, Tony Diagne, Matt Hamshaw, Ben Futcher, Matt Smith.
Subs not used: Jose Veiga, Zac Aley.
Booked: Futcher (38), Draper (91).
Referee: Mr Danny McDermid
Assts: Mr Mathew Buonassisi & Mr Matt Foley.
Attendance: 4,562 (39 Macclesfield)