Macclesfield Town and Stockport County into FA Cup first round

Danny Lloyd celebrates against Bishop Aukland
Danny Lloyd celebrates against Bishop Aukland (M Photographic)

Macclesfield Town and Stockport County both made it through to the first round of the FA Cup.

Macc made light work of their trip to North Ferriby United while two Danny Lloyd goals were enough for County to see off Bishop Aukland at Edgeley Park.

FA Cup: North Ferriby Utd 1, Macclesfield Town 4 (Whitaker 2, Holroyd, Mackreth)

After an early shock, when the home side opened the scoring in the first minute, The Silkmen moved comfortably into the first round of the FA Cup, thanks to a brace from Danny Whitaker and further goals from Chris Holroyd and Jack Mackreth.

Former Macc striker Vinny Mukendi put the hosts in front with the first attack of the game before the visitors took a hold on the game before the break.

Jack Sampson had a goal disallowed for offside and home keeper Rory Watson denied Paul Lewis and Holroyd before Whitaker finally brought his side level in the last minute of the half.

The second half began in the same vein as the visitors looked to clinch the tie and it came as no surprise when Holroyd gave his side the lead, skipping passed several challenges before slotting home.

Mackreth then made the game safe, finishing well after a neat through ball from Whitaker who then slotted home a late spot kick after Lewis had been fouled in the box.

FA Cup: Stockport County 2 (Lloyd 2), Bishop Auckland 0

Stockport County claimed a place in the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in four years after a third consecutive home win in the competition this term.

Danny Lloyd grabbing both goals to end the FA Cup dreams of Northern League Division One outfit Bishop Auckland.

The home side began brightly with Lloyd coming close to opening the scoring early on, only to see his effort saved by visiting keeper Edward Wilczynski.

The diminutive front man had his revenge just after the half hour as he volleyed home superbly from a Mark Ross cross.

The visitors came back into it with long range efforts from Dylan Elliott and Jeff Smith, before Andrew Johnson almost levelled, Ben Hinchliffe saving well to deny the visitors top scorer.

Within minutes Lloyd had wrapped up the win, taking on Gary Stopforth’s pass to finish clinically for his eight goal of the campaign.

The home side created and missed a host of opportunities throughout the second period, Josh Amis, Mike Clarke, Chris Smalley and substitutes Courtney Meppen-Walters and Craig Carney all coming close without really testing Wilczynski, before the final whistle ended the visitors’ FA Cup run for this season.

Hallmark Security Premier: AFC Liverpool 1, New Mills 1 (Douglas-Pringle)

The Millers picked up a valuable point on the road at high flying AFC Liverpool thanks to Daniel Douglas-Pringle’s strike just moments after the home side had taken the lead through Francis Smith.

Garry Brown, although happy that his side had taken something from a game that they had performed well in, would have been cursing his side’s luck after they were denied a blatant penalty in the dying minutes.

Both sides contributed to an entertaining game and it was somewhat a surprise that it took until the 49th minute before a goal was scored, Smith playing a neat one-two before slotting home, Douglas-Pringle heading home the leveller minutes later.

Hallmark Security 1st Division: Atherton LR 0, Cheadle Town 3 (Webb 2, Magida)

A first-half double from Rhys Webb and a superb solo goal from Thabiso Magida in the second half gave Cheadle Town a much needed win on the road to move them away from the bottom of the table.

Luke Hincks had already gone close to opening the scoring before Webb cut inside to smash home his first of the day on 18 minutes.

Webb’s second coming seven minutes later as he found himself one on one with the home keeper after Joe Shaw had played a ball over a static defence.

The home side made a game of it in the second half and struck the woodwork on two occasions before Magida wrapped up the points as slotted home after a mazy run.

Hallmark Security 1st Division: Alsager Town 2, Stockport Town 3 (Neequaye 2, Gaskin)

The Lions came back from two goals down to end Alsager Town’s unbeaten start to the season as Nathan Neequaye scored his second last-minute winner of the week to keep his team moving up the table.

The visitors started brightly and gained an early advantage as Mark Grice slotted home after a defensive mix up.

Grice then added a penalty on the half hour mark to give the visitors a comfortable half time lead. The home side were much better after the break, Neequaye gave them hope with his first and Sam Scott struck the woodwork before skipper warren gaskin levelled the scores.

Neequaye repeated his heroics of Tuesday night at Chadderton with another last-minute goal to close the gap on the leading pack.