The final pre-season game before the trip to Austria ended with honours even at the Moss Rose as a mixed Potters line-up was fielded by City boss Tony Pulis.

The likes of Danny Higginbotham, Darel Russell and Ricardo Fuller were all left to rest in the stand as John Eustace took over the captain's armband to partner Anthony Pulis in the centre, with Rory Delap and Peter Sweeney occupying the wide roles.

Minutes in and Stoke nearly took the lead when a through ball from the left was chased onto by Vincent Pericard and the Frenchman squared for Parkin, but the ex-Macclesfield man's low effort was thwarted by Tommy Lee ten yards from goal.

Instead, it was to be the home side who were to open the scoring when neat work on their left-flank saw a cross to the back-post well finished by Carl Regan after 9 minutes.

The Silkmen threatened again when a quick throw-out from Lee sent Danny Thomas on the counter-attack. The winger squared for Adam Murray but his powerful strike was well-held by Steve Simonsen.

City were then hit with another blow when Rory Delap left the pitch with exhaustion after 28 minutes. The Irish midfielder was replaced by Lewis Buxton with Hoefkens moving forward to right midfield.

Macclesfield continued to press and enjoyed good periods of possession but the Potters would prove more clinical and equalised ten minutes before the break.

A long goal-kick by Simonsen was latched onto by Pericard down the left flank and the powerful striker held the ball up well to allow team-mates to join the attack.

Peter Sweeney quickly arrived and whipped in a great back-post cross where Parkin buried a header from close range to make amends for the earlier chance.

The Potters returned to the pitch after half-time with no changes except for Andy Wilkinson's shirt swap following a nose bleed at the death of the first forty-five.

Parkin went close to grabbing his second ten minutes in when his low bending effort was tipped around the post by sub-keeper Baker.

The visitors nearly took the lead from the resulting corner but Andy Wilkinson's back post effort was somehow scrambled off the line by a defender.

The Moss Rose men nearly went ahead themselves through an ambitious bicycle kick but Simonsen wasn't threatened as City started to create more chances at the other end.

Parkin was heavily involved in the attacking play but would end the game disappointed not to score a second.

First, he put the ball in the back of the net midway through the second period but was adjudged to be offside by the referee's assistant.

And with fifteen minutes remaining, a superb through ball by John Eustace beat the offside trap but Parkin could only place his effort wide of the keeper's left hand post.

Substitute Adam Rooney also went close to grabbing a late winner but his cross-shot drifted past the far post after good work by the Irishman to hold off a defender.

All-in-all City had chances to win the game but Macclesfield's ability to hold their own will remind the squad that there is much more work to do in Austria ahead of the season-opener at Cardiff in August.

MACCLESFIELD (4-4-2): Lee (Baker 46); Regan (Flynn 76), Swailes (McNulty 65), Edghill (Jennings 65), McIntyre (Hart 62); Wiles (I. Reid 65), Dunfield (Hadfield 46), Murray (L. Reid 62), Thomas (Jeffies 76); Green (Gritton 62), Husbands.

Scorer: Regan (9)

CITY (4-4-2): Simonsen; Hoefkens (Garrett 53), Wilkinson, Hill, Dickinson; Delap (Buxton 28 (Shotton 76)), Eustace, Pulis, Sweeney (Sidibe 53); Parkin, Pericard (Rooney 70). Subs (Not Used): Ryan, Hazley.

Scorer: Parkin (35)