Darrell Clarke’s side were made to rue a slow start as they had to settle for a point thanks to a second half strike from Wes McDonald.
It took Town just eight minutes to get the opening goal, as Welch-Hayes was allowed far too much time on the right wing as he took a touch and fired it through the legs of James Clarke and into the far corner.
With 14 minutes played, the visitors went close again, this time through Arthur Gnahoua. The tricky winger met a cross from 12-yards out but his header was well saved by Liam Roberts.
Just shy of 20 minutes gone in the first half and the Saddlers calved their first opportunity. A short corner was fired in by Wes McDonald and turned goal bound by Josh Gordon but his effort was blocked and eventually cleared.
A few moments later and Town keeper Owen Evans was called into action. A Danny Guthrie free-kick was volleyed goal wards by Mat Sadler and Evans produced a fine save to turn it behind for a corner.
Into the second half and Macclesfield again had the first clear cut chance, Gnahoua with another opportunity to extend the lead but his effort from the edge of the 18-yard box was just over Roberts’ bar.
Moments after that chance, midfielder James Harris took aim from outside the box and his effort took a wicked deflection and ended up grazing the crossbar with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
On the hour mark and the Saddlers thought they had their equaliser. A Guthrie corner was met by Caolan Lavery and Gordon tried to turn the ball home but his effort was cleared off the line.
With just over a third of the second half left to play the Saddlers did find their much deserved equaliser. After some good work from substitute Cameron Pring, the fullback was able to lay it off to McDonald and the winger curled his effort into the far corner.
In the final stages of the game, Town keeper Evans made some outstanding saves as he denied Gordon and substitute Elijah Adebayo the winning goals that the Saddlers were looking for.
Despite throwing everything at Macclesfield in the final moments of the game, they Saddlers weren’t able to find a winner and had to settle for a point in the end.