Macclesfield FC progressed to the Third Round of the Isuzu FA Trophy at the Leasing.com Stadium on Saturday afternoon, narrowly defeating Northern Premier League side Prescot Cables by a single Ethan McLeod goal.
Early pressure was applied by Cables, including a Peter Clarke header inside five minutes, forcing Max Dearnley into a smart stop, looking to pose a threat despite their unfavoured position going in to the tie.
The Silkmen gradually stepped in to their solid stride after a relatively slow start, dominating the ball for large parts, requiring Cables to psychologically chase the game from early on, despite remaining level on the scoresheet for the time being.
It wasn’t without the occasional attempt from Cables, notably so via Ben Elliott who tested Dearnley on more than one occasion, though was unable to beat Macc’s number one.
Brandon Lee, making his first start since returning from a hamstring injury, was his usual effective self, meeting a deep Isaac Buckley-Ricketts cross, though couldn’t turn the ball home from a tight angle.
Lee continued to cause Cables problems from the left flank with his lightning quick pace and dangerous cut backs, but Macc were unable to convert the multiple chances produced by the wideman.
The sides were level at the break, though it felt as though it was a matter of time before the Silkmen would grab that currently evasive lead.
Regan Griffiths was the first in blue to try his luck after the break, firing well over from distance, though immediately making Macc’s intentions clear with a fast restart.
John Rooney turned to his bench just after the hour mark to make three of his allocated five changes in one go. Luke Duffy, Justin Johnson and James Edmondson took the places of Max Woltman, Isaac Buckley-Ricketts and Danny Whitehead respectively.
With fresh legs and a renewed enthusiasm to grab that much needed goal, Danny Elliott and Lewis Fensome both saw efforts well stopped by Calvin Hare as Cables began to tire.
The Silkmen fought back however as they asserted their authority on the affair as the afternoon came to a close in front of 1,080 supporters, eventually making the difference seven minutes from time through substitute Ethan McLeod, who found the far corner on his return from injury with a neat, low strike across the face of Hare’s goal.
Justin Johnson came close to doubling Macc’s lead almost instantly, though his curling effort fizzed past the far post as Prescot’s hope began to fade.
Cables did however threaten once more in the dying moments of the eight minutes added on, forcing Lewis Fensome into a goal line clearance to prevent a penalty shootout.
The Silkmen are now eight games unbeaten in all competitions and face Congleton Town next in the Cheshire Senior Cup at the Leasing.com Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Macc learn of their Third Round opponents in Monday afternoon’s live draw on TalkSPORT2.
