WHILE ‘Martin’ Bartley and the rest of Eddie Howe’s squad revelled in this victory at Moss Rose, one John Rooney was left to ponder what might have been. What’s in a name, anyway, John… While Rooney was blinded by an opportunity to steal the family limelight from brother Wayne of Manchester United, Bartley, incorrectly named by the stadium announcer before kick-off, was making sure the England striker’s lodger had something to remember him by.

If games are won and lost in a second, then Bartley’s thunderous, last-ditch challenge on Rooney, deep inside the Cherries box and about to pull the trigger just after the restart on Saturday, could be Marvin’s Moment.

Indeed, nearly two years after Cherries dropped into unfashionable League Two, Bartley is finally starting to live up to his billing as a basement division must-have.

Of course, injury and a relative plethora of midfield talent in Howe’s ranks have not been kind to Bartley.

But having grabbed his chance due to injured absentees Mark Molesley and Sammy Igoe, the midfielder is starting to look the real deal.

“Marvin has had to be very patient, but he was outstanding,” said Howe, when asked about Bartley’s contribution. “He’s done everything right and waited for his chance, he hasn’t been a problem and now he has been given an opportunity, he has taken it.”

Solid in defence, his tackle on Rooney the high point of a fine afternoon’s work, Bartley also showed power going forward and real thought when in possession.

While the horrendous South Cheshire weather did its best to halt a victory for the beautiful game, Bartley’s tireless display alongside Anton Robinson would have given Macclesfield boss Keith Alexander food for thought – whether he was misquoted in his pre-match interviews or not.

Forget “living above their means” – this was a gritty showcase starring two gems from non-league, who, between them, cost next to nothing.

And how Alexander, a hard-working striker for the likes of Grimsby and Stockport during a playing career spanning over 20 years, would dearly love to have a Bartley in his own ranks.

He might get one, of course, after revealing during the post-match interviews that money could be available to boost the Silkmen’s playing personnel in the January sales.

Howe, though, will more than likely have to make do with his lot – albeit a squad that is proving it just might have the mettle to maintain a season-long promotion charge.

Tomorrow night’s clash against Dagenham & Redbridge now takes on the level of expectation deserving of a top-of-the-table contest, with Alexander’s men creating few chances to kill off the hype.

Even the Silkmen’s goal, when it came, had Ryan Garry to thank, as Shaun Brisley’s effort took a big deflection off the Cherries defender’s head before looping beyond Shwan Jalal.

That was after 35 minutes, with Brett Pitman 10 minutes away from gaining his revenge on Macc keeper Jonny Brain, who had saved his seventh-minute spot-kick following Lee Bell’s handball.

And despite the conditions taking hold, the Channel Islander’s wonder strike on the stroke of half-time was worth the wait.

Eyeing the ball on the edge of the Silkmen’s box, the 21-year-old let rip with a ferocious left-foot volley that left Brain rooted to the spot.

Liam Feeney should have sealed the points just moments before Pitman bagged his second, but the winger’s snapshot was cleared off the line by Paul Morgan 13 minutes from time.

Pitman, though, was on hand to glance a perfectly-placed header past Brain after Cummings had chipped the ball back into the danger area following Feeney’s effort.

A party piece looked unlikely in the driving wind and rain, but Pitman’s speculative lob from 30 yards deserved more than a smack against the upright as Alexander’s men waved the white flag.

“We were excellent from the moment the whistle sounded,” added Howe, “but with the chances we had in the first half, I always felt we might get punished and we did.

“But to come from a goal down, which is the first time we’ve done that in a league game this season, was a great feat and I was absolutely delighted with the lads.

“It was difficult to play football, but we turned that on its head during the first half. I was expecting a scrappy game, but we passed it around like it was a summer’s day.

“Macclesfield played a lot better in the second half and made it difficult for us, but thankfully we got the second goal.

“The attitude of the lads has been so good and they deserved the win.”