Macclesfield, Feb 17: Brentford will face West Ham in the fifth round of the FA Cup after dispatching Macclesfield 1-0 on Monday, an own goal ending the fairy tale run of the sixth-tier giantkiller.
The Macclesfield part-timers knocked out cup holder Crystal Palace in the last round and were hailed for pulling off one of the greatest shocks in the competition’s long history.
But they could not match Brentford, which progressed thanks to a 70th minute own goal from Sam Heathcote.
The big defender dived to cut out a cross from Aaron Hickey but instead diverted the ball past his own keeper.
It was a cruel denouement for Macclesfield, which held the Premier League club throughout an even first half before tiring in the second 45 minutes.
“I couldn’t be any prouder,” Macclesfield coach John Rooney told TNT Sports. “The lads were outstanding and the shape was really good. We train two times a week and we’ve put that performance on against a Premier League side.” The fifth-round tie will take place at West Ham’s Olympic Stadium on the weekend of March 7-8.
Brentford has never passed the quarterfinals of the competition.
“Credit to Macclesfield,” Brentford captain Nathan Collins said. “They made it extremely hard for us. They put up a great fight.” For Macclesfield, the final whistle brought heartbreak, yet it also sealed a chapter that will be spoken about in the town for years to come.
A team of part-timers, training twice a week and balancing football with full-time jobs, stood toe-to-toe with a Premier League outfit and bowed out with heads held high.
The romance of the FA Cup may have ended on a cruel deflection, but the spirit they displayed under John Rooney captured the imagination of neutral fans across the country.
For Brentford, the job was done — no frills, no drama, just progression — as they now turn their attention to a sterner examination against West Ham at the London Stadium, carrying with them quiet ambition and the hope that this season might finally see them step beyond their quarterfinal ceiling. (AP)
