Gutted manager Brian Horton refused to criticise George Donnelly for missing a penalty after they lost 1-0 at Port Vale.
The goal could have fired Macclesfield out of the relegation places after the visitors had gained the upper hand when Donnelly blazed his 75th-minute spot-kick into the crowd and Vale full-back Adam Yates made Horton's men pay with an 82nd-minute winner.
Horton said: "I'll never blame anyone for missing a penalty. George tried to smash it in and it's gone over the top.
"I had 11 great years at Vale and took the penalties when I played here. It's always disappointing to come back to your old club and lose.
"It was a great shame because we played much better in the second half. We didn't play at all in the first half but there was a major improvement after the break.
"Nat Brown's also been denied by a brilliant save and then we've lost it to an absolutely shocking goal. We would have taken 0-0 with Barnet losing but we've not reacted and the lad has had a tap-in. You don't concede goals like that if players do their jobs."
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