BRETT Pitman went from villain to super hero as Cherries came from behind to reclaim pole position in League Two with a deserved win at Moss Rose.

Pitman recovered his composure after missing a seventh-minute penalty to fire Cherries to victory by bagging a delightful double.

Macclesfield were under the cosh for much of the opening period and had goalkeeper Jonny Brain to thank for saving Pitman’s spot kick.

However, after surviving a host of early chances, the Silkmen took the lead through Shaun Brisley’s looping effort after 35 minutes.

But Pitman atoned for his spot-kick miss when he netted with a stunning left-foot volley to restore parity on the stroke of half-time.

And the 21-year-old striker completed victory when he nodded home a cross from Warren Cummings to seal the points 12 minutes from time.

Cherries boss Howe had the rare luxury of naming an unchanged starting line-up, while Sammy Igoe passed a late fitness test and returned to the bench.

Macclesfield made one change with John Rooney, younger brother of Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney, replacing Colin Daniel.

Cherries were presented with a glorious chance to take an early lead when referee Trevor Kettle pointed to the spot after Lee Bell had needlessly handled.

But after guessing correctly, Macclesfield goalkeeper Brain dived full-length to his left to superbly keep out Pitman’s spot kick.

Pitman was again denied when his well-struck effort from a Warren Cummings corner was blocked on route to goal by Reneil Sappleton.

And Cherries’ misfortune continued when Marvin Bartley’s 25-yard ripsnorter struck Ryan Garry before Brain intervened to nick Cummings’s delicate cross off Alan Connell’s head.

As the chances flew thick and fast on the Macclesfield goal, Garry’s close-range shot from a Pitman corner was saved on the line by Brain.

For all their pressure, disaster struck for Cherries when the Silkmen opened the scoring through Brisley, the goal coming against the run of play.

The teenage defender stuck out a boot to meet Bell’s speculative free kick, his effort from the edge of the 18-yard box looping over stranded Cherries goalkeeper Shwan Jalal.

Although Cherries appealed for a foul, their protestations that Brisley had been guilty of dangerous play fell on deaf ears.

Pitman made amends for his earlier penalty miss when he equalised with a ferocious left-foot volley, which whistled past Brain and into the bottom corner of the net.

Bartley’s last-ditch saving tackle prevented Rooney from taking aim at the start of the second half before Jalal saved low down from Hamza Bencherif’s long-range strike.

Steve Fletcher was unleashed with 25 minutes remaining, the targetman replacing Connell as boss Howe made his first substitution.

Cherries went close to taking the lead when Feeney’s effort from a Cummings corner was hacked off the line by Paul Morgan after 77 minutes.

However, after the ball had found its way back to Cummings, his cross from the right was met by Pitman whose glancing header beat the despairing dive of Brain.

Pitman was denied a hat-trick when his exquisite effort from 30 yards beat Brain hands down, only to come back off the upright.

Lee Bradbury collected a booking for a poor challenge on Matthew Tipton, his fifth yellow card of the season ruling him out of Cherries’ FA Cup tie against Notts County.

Cherries (4-4-2): Jalal; Bradbury, Pearce, Garry, Cummings; Feeney (Igoe, 90), Bartley, Robinson, Hollands; Pitman, Connell (Fletcher, 65).

Unused subs: Goulding, Partington, McQuoid, Thomas (g/k).

Booked: Garry, Bradbury.

Silkmen (4-4-2): Brain; Reid, Brisley, Morgan, Tremarco; Bencherif, Bell (Tipton, 81), Draper, Sinclair; Sappleton (Wright, h-t), Rooney (Daniel, 60).

Unused subs: Brown, Bolland, Daniel, Wilson, Veiga (g/k).

Booked: Tremarco.

Referee: Trevor Kettle (Rutland).

Attendance: 1,413 (including 204 visiting supporters).