Macclesfield 0-1 Brentford: Premier League side edge past non-league Macclesfield after own goal
Brentford advanced to the FA Cup fifth round courtesy of a single second-half own goal, edging past a spirited Macclesfield side 1-0 at Moss Rose. The non-league outfit — whose run included a famous win over the holders in the previous round — pushed the Premier League visitors all the way but were ultimately undone by misfortune as Sam Heathcote diverted a cross past his goalkeeper.
How the tie unfolded
The first half belonged to the hosts. Macclesfield, buoyed by the momentum of their upset in the prior round, dominated possession and looked the more dangerous side, probing Brentford's makeshift backline and carving out the clearest chances. Isaac Buckley-Ricketts and skipper Paul Dawson both threatened early on, with Dawson seeing an effort skim narrowly wide as the home crowd grew in belief.
Brentford's starting lineup featured several changes and initially lacked cohesion. The visitors were pressed high, forced into hurried passes and unable to impose the kind of pace that usually defines their game. The pattern shifted after the break: Brentford tightened up defensively, sustained pressure with a series of corners and crosses, and gradually pinned Macclesfield back.
The decisive moment arrived in the 70th minute. Aaron Hickey found space down the left and delivered a dangerous ball into the box; Heathcote attempted to intervene and, in trying to clear, glanced the ball beyond his own keeper. The goal settled a contest that had looked increasingly likely to be decided by small margins.
Reactions and the cup story's legacy
There was immediate admiration from the Brentford camp for the non-league opponents. Head coach Keith Andrews praised Macclesfield's spirit and organisation, saying he had been struck by their togetherness and the way they had tested his squad. He admitted his side had not made life easy for themselves in the first half, but felt tweaks at half-time helped them control more of the second period and eventually find the breakthrough.
Macclesfield captain Paul Dawson reflected a mixture of pride and disappointment. He described the cup evenings against top-tier teams as unforgettable tests and paid tribute to his teammates and the community that has rallied behind the club during its recent reformation and rise back through the pyramid. Manager John Rooney also highlighted the unity within his squad and said the run — which began with an early-round win over Atherton LR — had exceeded expectations and given the club a platform to build on.
For Brentford, the win brings a mouth-watering fifth-round trip to West Ham, an away tie that will shift focus back to the Premier League club's ambitions in both league and cup. For Macclesfield, the exit does not erase what has been a career-defining run for many of the players and a galvanising chapter for the town and club supporters.
What comes next
Brentford will turn attention to their next assignment in the FA Cup and the demands of a congested calendar, with the cup victory offering a confidence boost but also a reminder of the margin for error when facing opponents prepared to fight for every ball. Macclesfield return to league matters with fresh pride and a rare taste of national attention that could prove valuable in recruitment, morale and local support.
Ultimately, this tie reinforced one of the competition's enduring appeals: the chance for smaller clubs to pit themselves against top-level opposition, to unsettle favourites and to craft stories that linger long after the final whistle. Moss Rose provided one such evening — tense, passionate and decided by the smallest of margins.
