As we get another day closer to the start of our Emirates FA Cup campaign, we are looking back at another of our previous Second Round Qualifying ties as Macclesfield FC.
Our next fixture comes from the 2023/24 season, as the Silkmen defeated higher opposition in Buxton from the National League North to progress to Third Round Qualifying.
The Silkmen had defeated Whickham FC of the Northern League in the previous round, and returned to the Leasing.com Stadium in the Cat and Fiddle Derby.
It was the visitors who had the best chance in the early exchanges, as a well-worked move found Connor Kirby, who drilled a cross across the box to Tom Elliott, who rattled the crossbar.
After the early scare for the Silkmen, they slowly started to get back into the game, with John Rooney and Alex Curran both having efforts deflected past the post.
The opening goal came on the half-hour mark, as a marauding run down the left flank from Brandon Lee took him all the way to the goal line; he crossed into the six-yard box for the on-rushing Laurent Mendy to fire past Max Dearnley.
Mendy almost got a second in as many minutes as he latched onto a quick free-kick over the top from Sam Heathcote, but his effort on the half-volley was well palmed away by Dearnley in the Bucks goal.
Mendy in a midfield role was popping up on several occasions, and nearly converted another Brandon Lee cut-back, but it wad fired over the crossbar.
The Silkmen were dominant, and they started the second half the way they finished the first as Luke Duffy flashed two efforts on goal, wide of the target.
Macc’s number 11 would get his goal in very route one fashion. Conor O’Keefe launched a free kick into the opposition half which was won by Mendy, Tom Peers and Neil Kengni then combined well before the former found Duffy on-rushing at the far post to double the Silkmen’s advantage.
It was a dominant performance from the Northern Premier League side as they swept aside their National League North opponents in fine fashion.
