Macclesfield FC delivered the greatest upset in Emirates FA Cup history as they bridged a gap of 117 league places to stun defending champions Crystal Palace in a magical third round tie.
Paul Dawson’s towering header and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts’ genius flick ensured the National League North team are the first Non-League side to beat the Cup holders in 108 years.
Yeremy Pino’s brilliant free-kick gave Crystal Palace hope of an unlikely comeback but they ran out of time, the 2-1 Macclesfield win sparking wild celebrations.
THE MAGIC OF THE FA CUP 😍😍😍
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) January 10, 2026
Non league Macclesfield have knocked out the holders Crystal Palace!!! pic.twitter.com/b95kq1Yf2m
Macclesfield entered the competition in the second round qualifying, beating Atherton LR, Nantwich Town, Stamford AFC, AFC Totton and Slough Town just to reach this stage.
And they looked far from overawed against an out-of-sorts Palace side that rarely looked like coming from behind.
The tie marked the first meeting between the FA Cup holders and a non-League side since 2004-05, with Wolves the last holders to be knocked out by a non-league team in 1908-09 which, incidentally, was Palace themselves.
Palace made a steady start and went close through Pino, who poked wide from inside the box, and Christantus Uche, who fired narrowly over the bar.
But Macclesfield frustrated the Eagles as the first half wore on, sitting in a low block and defending diligently, before scoring from their first opportunity two minutes before half-time.
Luke Duffy’s curled cross found Dawson at the far post and he guided a brilliant header back across Walter Benitez and into the far corner.
Paul Dawson puts sixth-tier @thesilkmen ahead against the #EmiratesFACup holders! 🤯
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 10, 2026
📺 Watch live on @BBCMOTD and @footballontnt pic.twitter.com/eaQMBGLG4T
Palace responded at the beginning of the second half by sending on Will Hughes and new signing Brennan Johnson, but Macclesfield struck again just before the hour when Buckley-Ricketts brilliantly flicked a wayward shot back past Benitez following a penalty-box scramble.
That injected some urgency into Palace. Uche and Pino both went close again but for all of their pressure, they struggled to create clear-cut chances.
Pino set the nerves jangling with a glorious 90th-minute free-kick but Macclesfield survived six minutes of added time to reach the fourth round.
Absolute carnage! 🤯
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 10, 2026
Sixth-tier @thesilkmen have doubled their lead against the holders @CPFC!
📺 Watch live on @BBCMOTD and @footballontnt pic.twitter.com/0AZPlWkt7x
The win is emotional for everyone connected with Macclesfield, whose striker Ethan McLeod died in a car accident on December 16 while travelling home from a league game with Bedford Town.
The 21-year-old's parents were at the game and manager John Rooney paid an emotional tribute.
"I just walked in the office then and his parents are in the office celebrating with us," he said.
"I said to his parents: He is definitely watching down on us today. I feel he is here with us.
Ethan McLeod’s parents join players and staff in the dressing room after Macclesfield FC's historic win ❤️
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 10, 2026
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/UKo0Dh4EVo
"To have his mum and dad here - to come into the changing room, to come into the office. That means so much to me."
