The Silkmen’s return to the Emirates FA Cup is getting even closer, and we are continuing to flashback to our previous Second Round Qualifying fixtures as Macclesfield FC.
This time we are flashing back to the 2024/25 season as the Silkmen put in a five-star display to get past higher opposition in the form of National League North side South Shields.
In the previous round, the Silkmen needed a second-half hat-trick from Paul Dawson to get past Tadcaster Albion.
The Silkmen started the game on the front foot, and won a free kick right on the edge of the box as Justin Johnson was brought down by Martin Smith.
Step up Paul Dawson who drilled the dead ball to the Boney’s left hand side who couldn’t get a hand to the Silkmen skipper’s powerful free kick.
It took until just after the half hour mark for South Shields to fashion their first opportunity of the game, and they should have equalised as a quick passing move found its way to Aidan Rutledge in the box, but his first time side footed volley went over Max Dearnley’s crossbar.
Dawson would get his second goal of the game moments later as he chested down a brilliant cross field pass from John Rooney before dribbling into the area and sending Boney the wrong way in the visitors net.
Macc almost made it three inside the first half, as they fashioned a great move down their right hand side as Tre Pemberton cut inside the box before squaring to Alex Curran who stung the palms of Boney.
It would take six minutes of the second half for the Silkmen to secure their third and put the game to bed, as Pemberton flicked a ball over the top for D’Mani Mellor who had his shot saved, but the follow up only went into the path of the on-rushing Pemberton to grab his first of the season.
The Silkmen were flying, and very nearly added their fourth through Rooney as he was found nicely by Johnson but his turn and shot came back off the crossbar.
Johnson would go on to get the Silkmen’s fourth goal just moments later as a through ball from Mellor found its way to the winger who curled his strike into the top corner.
Shields would come close to a consolation as Macc lost play in midfield but Mackenzie Heaney was greeted by the out-rushing Dearnley who denied him with his legs.
Two Silkmen changes very nearly combined for a fifth goal as Neil Kengni put the ball on a plate for Danny Elliott, but he couldn’t get a connection on the cross.
The Silkmen’s fifth would come via a substitution as Edy Maieco got on the scoresheet with a brilliant run through the Shields backline before his low shot found the back of the net.
It was a dominant display from the Silkmen as they were full value for their victory against a side in a higher division.
