Dover's National League play-off hopes were all but ended by a home draw against Macclesfield on Tuesday night.

Macclesfield had nothing to play for and have a three week wait until an FA Trophy Final date at Wembley but twice took the lead against a Dover side needing to win to close the gap on Aldershot in the final play-off place.

Olie Norburn stole in to slot the Silkmen ahead from a tight angle but a penalty from the newly crowned National League Player of the Year Ricky Miller levelled before the break.

Dover had their chances to win it after the break but Mitch Walker was beaten by a low drive from Anthony Dudley inside the final 20 minutes and though Ross Lafayette slammed home a leveller with four minutes to play, Dover could not find a winner.

It all means Aldershot have a three point lead and a six goal advantage ahead of the season finale on Saturday when Dover travel to Barrow (12.15pm) and the Shots host strugglers Braintree.

Despite that was at stake the game began in low-key fashion though Miller went close with a 20-yard snap-shot after being found by Joe Healy inside five minutes, his effort flying a foot wide of the far post and moments later a Healy free-kick found its way to Connor Essam whose volley was stopped on the line by ex Gills keeper Scott Flinders.

James Thorne went close to a goal for the visitors on 17 minutes, fizzing a low shot past the post from 20 yards after a neat exchange of passes with Anthony Dudley.

Miller sent another couple of range-finders over the bar from the left edge of the penalty area while a Sam Magri free-kick evaded everyone and bounced through to Flinders on the line.

The deadlock was broken against the run of play just after the half-hour when a deep cross from the right found its way to the back post where Ollie Norburn ghosted in to provide a neat finish from an angle to beat Mitch Walker.

Norburn was linked with a move to Crabble in January but his goal silenced the home fans.

John McCombe was booked for a crude challenge on Miller soon after while Essam headed a Magri free-kick off target, however Dover were handed a lifeline on 39 minutes with a controversial penalty for a seemingly inadvertent handball against Danny Whittaker following a flick from Healy.

Miller stepped-up to send Flinders the wrong way and score his 37th goal of the campaign and reawaken the crowd, though Mitch Hancox went closest to a third goal in the remainder of the first half with a 25-yard blast over the angle.

After the break Norburn made another run into the box to meet a cross but sent his effort just past Walker's post while Miller saw a 25-yard free-kick patted down and held at the second attempt by Flinders.

Just after the hour another Magri free-kick was headed goalwards by Aswad Thomas at the far post, only for Miller to inadvertently flick over the bar from two yards out.

Miller had another free-kick from even closer range with 20 minutes to go but smashed straight into the wall and saw another shot charged down after a long free-kick forward from Jamie Grimes.

The crucial third goal arrived 18 minutes from time when a long ball forward broke to Dudley on the right of the area and his low shot seemed to creep through Walker's dive and into the net.

Essam glanced a deep free-kick over the bar with Flinders in no man's land and with nine minutes left Miller skewed wide with his weaker right foot.

Moses Emmanuel was brought on to add to Dover's attacking options and with four minutes remaining he spun in the box and crossed low for Lafayette to slam home on the slide to spark hopes of a grandstand finale.

The combination almost worked again only for Flinders to pip Lafayette to a bouncing ball while Emmanuel nodded wide from another set-piece in stoppage-time after Essam had nodded back across goal.

Healy flashed another header across the face of goal as Dover piled forward but Dudley almost punished them on the break, rolling against the inside of the post from 18 yards when clean through.

The final whistle all but ended Dover's hopes of a return to the play-offs and was likely to be a final Crabble appearance for Miller and potentially some of his Whites teammates.

Dover: Walker, Magri, Thomas (Emmanuel 85mins), Essam, Orlu, Miller, Grimes, Sterling (Fazakerley 58mins), Lafayette, Healy, Hurst (Pinnock 57mins). Subs: Kinnear Jr, Stevenson.

Macclesfield: Flinders, Halls, Byrne, McCombe, Browne (Okosieme 90mins), Whitehead, Norburn, Hancox, Whittaker (Summerfield 84mins), Dudley, Thorne (Holroyd 81mins). Subs: Ross, James.

Attendance: 932.