Macclesfield FC were defeated in the Fourth Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup away against National League side Tamworth FC.
Danny Elliott almost broke the deadlock 15 minutes into the game when he was unmarked on the six-yard box, but his effort went just wide following a ball across from Neil Kengni.
On the half-hour mark, Elliott opened the scoring when his right-footed effort went into the top right corner after receiving a pass from D’Mani Mellor.
Tamworth responded instantly by scoring twice in three minutes to take the lead with Nathan Tshikuna scoring both goals. Just before half-time Dan Creaney added a third goal for Tamworth.
Macclesfield started the second half strong as they looked for a way back into the tie and in the first six minutes of the half Tamworth keeper Jas Singh denied both Paul Dawson and Elliott from scoring.
Macclesfield did pull a goal back and it was from a John Rooney corner which was met by Dawson and his header went into the back of the net in the 53rd minute. Luke Duffy almost equalised but his long-range effort was well saved by Singh just after the hour mark.
Tamworth restored their two-goal lead with five minutes of normal time left to play through Tom McGlinchey who followed up following a save from Max Dearnley.
Following the match head coach Robbie Save was pleased with his team’s performance despite the result he explained: “I am disappointed that we have gone out of the cup but I am proud of that performance.
“We have shown everybody how good we are, and we have to take that into Tuesday’s game against Hebburn, keep the momentum and believe in everything that we’ve got.”
Once again, the travelling Silkmen fans were in full support and Savage was gutted for them knowing his side were close to the first-round proper.
Next up The Silkmen return to league action on Tuesday night at The Leasing.com Stadium as they host Hebburn Town.
Macclesfield: Dearnley, Pemberton, Kengni, Dawson, Mendy, Heathcote (76), Johnson (86), Rooney, Mellor, Elliott, Duffy.
Subs: Savage, Fensome, Maieco (86), Whitehead, Duffus, Clare (76), Curran
By Luke Johnson