Crystal Palace

Macclesfield FC who were formed five years ago following administration host the holders, Crystal Palace in the FA Cup Third Round. A slow first 10 minutes with very limited chances in the attacking sense with the game seeming very even in the opening stages with a few stop-start moments. Good play between Uche and Pino and the Spanish winger finds his way through but only found the side netting in a chance he should really be doing better in. Edmondson had a free-kick whipped in but failed to find anyone as the cross was too far ahead and too low for anyone to latch on which was a very poor effort. Lacey had a big chance for the hosts, a nice struck ball on target but was ultimately a simple catch for Benitez but some good football by the non-league side by the hosts. Rodney had a wonderful ball in towards 16-year-old Drake-Thomas who just couldn’t get his head to the ball  keeping the game all square. Uche launched an effort after 28 minutes from outside the box and was just marginally over the bar. Palace starting to show control but unable to fire ahead. Duffy for Macclesfield with a darting run who unleashed an early cross but just couldn’t find the target and was defended well by the holders. Captain Darcy put sixth-tier Macclesfield ahead against the current holders, Crystal Palace. Duffy with a sensational cross into the box then there was Darcy who smashed his header past Benitez to fire the non-league side ahead against the Premier League outfit. Going into the second half, the visitors unleashed their more experienced players with trio Mitchell, Johnson and Hughes all being introduced as Palace look to defend the FA Cup. Edmondson had a chance after 58 minutes, switched onto his left and struck a low-driven strike but was a simple stop. Macclesfield doubled their advantage sending the crowd in mayhem. Macclesfield keep fighting with hunger, they unleash a strike which was initially blocked in which landed at Buckley-Ricketts who tapped it home with the outside of his foot as Benitez was left unable to even try and stop it. Palace did have their chances but was really struggling to test Dearnley in goals as they just couldn’t get the ball into the back of the net. Wharton smacked an effort from distance but an amazing save by the Macclesfield goalkeeper to keep their lead at 2-0. Palace found one back late on, Pino from a free-kick on the edge of the box which calmly rattled into the back of the net to give to Premier League side a life-line. Uche was grounded late on as they claimed for a late spot-kick but the referee was showing zero interest and let play resume. The full-time whistle went and the National League North side Macclesfield booked themselves a spot in the next round defeating the FA Cup holders, Crystal Palace who sit 144 places above the non-league side in a historic day for Macclesfield in their five year history following their administration when they were known as Macclesfield Town FC. Macclesfield FC: Dearnley (7), Fensome (7), Menayese (7), Heathcote (8), Lacey (8), Dawson (9), Kay (8), Buckley-Ricketts (8), Edmondson (8), Duffy (9), Mellor (8). Subsitutes: Botherwick-Jackson (7), Matheson (7), Dos Santos (7), Whitehead (7). Crystal Palace: Benitez (6), Richards (4), Geuhi (5), Canvot (6), Devenny (5), Sosa (6), Wharton (6), Rodney (6), Drakes-Thomas (7), Pino (5), Uche (6). Substitutes: Mitchell (6), Johnson (6), Hughes (6), Casey (5).