Road to Wembley

Macclesfield almost fell at the first hurdle. After being held to a 1-1 draw by Altrincham in December – the Silkmen’s Kingsley James cancelled out Sean Miller’s opener – they required goals from Danny Whitaker and Danny Rowe to overcome their Northern Premier League opponents in a replay.

A visit to AFC Sudbury of the Isthmian Premier League in January could have proved something of a banana-skin. But goals from Rhys Browne, Anthony Dudley and Jack Sampson secured a 3-1 victory.

A deflected Danny Whitehead strike was sufficient to see off National League rivals Forest Green Rovers as the excitement of what could be, come May, ramped up.

Another tricky looking tie at Dulwich Hamlet proved just that, as the Isthmian Premier League side fought back from two goals down to force a replay. Two goals from Browne though, finally saw off Dulwich, just five days before their semi-final first leg.

Ollie Norburn scored Macclesfield’s goal in the first leg, but Tranmere did enough to earn a 1-1 draw at Moss Rose. Rovers were favourites to finish the job in front of their own fans, but another Norburn goal proved decisive.

York’s FA Trophy campaign began with a comfortable 3-1 home win over National League North side Worcester City, manager Gary Mills celebrating his first victory since re-joining the club in October. Strikes from Jon Parkin and Rhys Murphy, plus a Graham Hutchinson own goal sealed their progress.

Amari Morgan-Smith marked his debut with the opening goal in a 2-1 defeat of Harlow Town. Simon Heslop was also on target as the manner of victory against the Essex part-timers was more comfortable than the scoreline suggested.

A trip to Nuneaton Town was almost concluded as soon as it began, with goals from Morgan-Smith, Vadaine Oliver and Sean Newton settling matters with just 19 minutes on the clock. It was the team’s biggest win under manager Mills.

Experienced striker Parkin, who handed the club a big boost just this week by signing a new one-year contract, scored the game’s only goal against Brackley Town, who rattled the woodwork three times but could not find the net.

The task could hardly have been tougher in the last four as York were pitted against National League champions and FA Cup giantkillers Lincoln City. But Oliver and Aidan Connolly notched to beat the Imps 2-1 in the first leg at Bootham Crescent, before Mills’ troops progressed courtesy of a dramatic 1-1 second leg draw at Sincil Bank, Scott Fenwick’s extra-time penalty sealing their progress.