Macclesfield (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – January 10, 2026 – Macclesfield FC defeated FA Cup holders Crystal Palace 2-1 in the third round, marking the biggest upset by league positions in competition history at 117 places. Captain Paul Dawson headed the opener from Luke Duffy’s cross before Isaac Buckley-Ricketts added a second from a deflection. Brennan Johnson’s stoppage-time free-kick set a nervous finish, but Macclesfield held firm for progression.
- Record-Breaking 117-Place League Position Gap
- First-Half Breakthrough Defines Upset Narrative
- Palace’s Second-Half Tactical Changes Prove Ineffective
- Macclesfield’s Phoenix Club Revival Provides Context
- Recent Tragedy Infuses Victory with Added Meaning
- Player Ratings Reflect Macclesfield’s Comprehensive Display
- Crystal Palace’s Extended Winless Run Continues
- Rooney’s Management Philosophy Yields Giant-Killing
- Tactical Execution Overcomes Divisional Disparity
- Macclesfield Heroes Cement Place in Folklore
- Fourth Round Progression Secures Financial Boost
Macclesfield outshot Palace despite the gulf in divisions, erasing league disparities through disciplined performance. The National League North side dominated key moments against Premier League opposition. Palace controlled possession yet struggled to convert chances throughout the match.
Football correspondent Ben Jacobs captured the historical significance immediately after full-time. Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) said in X post,
“Non-League Macclesfield knock out FA Cup holders Crystal Palace with a stunning 2-1 win. Paul Dawson and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts scored the goals for the hosts. Macclesfield is the first non-league side to giant-kill an FA Cup holder since… Crystal Palace beat Wolves in 1909.”
Non-League Macclesfield knock out FA Cup holders Crystal Palace with a stunning 2-1 win. Paul Dawson and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts with the goals for the hosts.🔵
Macclesfield the first non-league side to giant-kill an FA Cup holder since… Crystal Palace beat Wolves in 1909.🧮 pic.twitter.com/bKusd9yQYE
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) January 10, 2026
Record-Breaking 117-Place League Position Gap
The victory surpasses all previous FA Cup upsets measured by divisional difference.[context] Only nine non-league triumphs over top-flight teams occurred in the past century.[context] Macclesfield’s sixth-tier standing against Palace’s Premier League position created the landmark margin.[context]
Palace lifted the trophy last May against Manchester City.[context] Their current winless sequence reached nine matches, this representing their most significant reversal.[context]
First-Half Breakthrough Defines Upset Narrative
Joel Drakes-Thomas, Palace’s 16-year-old prospect, failed to connect with Kaden Rodney’s precise cross after peeling from defenders. Christantus Uche thumped a strike over the crossbar.
Duffy then floated a perfect delivery, allowing Dawson to rise highest and head into the far corner. Home supporters erupted as the goal sent Macclesfield into dreamland. The captain’s timing and placement proved decisive against higher opposition.
Palace’s Second-Half Tactical Changes Prove Ineffective
Oliver Glasner introduced Premier League veterans Tyrick Mitchell, Brennan Johnson, and Will Hughes at the interval. The substitutions failed to unsettle the resolute Macclesfield organisation. Buckley-Ricketts reacted quickest to a deflected effort, prodding home the second to stun Palace further.
Johnson curled a free-kick expertly over the wall and under the bar in stoppage time. Macclesfield defended stoutly through five added minutes to preserve the lead.
Resident Lurcherleans expressed community excitement post-match. Lurcherleans (@Lurcherleans) said in X post,
“I don’t do football at all, but I just heard that one of our local teams, Macclesfield Town, beat the holders of the FA cup, Crystal Palace. MT are 117 league places below Palace. I think Macclesfield will be buzzing tonight.”
I don’t do football at all but I just heard that one of our local teams, Macclesfield Town beat the holders of the FA cup, Crystal Palace. MT are 117 league places below Palace. I think Macclesfield will be buzzing tonight.
— Lurcherleans (@Lurcherleans) January 10, 2026
Macclesfield’s Phoenix Club Revival Provides Context
Macclesfield Town ceased trading in 2020, ending 146 years of history. Local businessman Robert Smethurst acquired assets to form Macclesfield FC as a phoenix club.3 promotions in four seasons elevated them from tier nine to the National League North.
Robbie Savage served on the board during the ascent before departing for Forest Green Rovers. Current manager John Rooney, brother of Wayne Rooney, maintains a mid-table position with play-off potential.
Recent Tragedy Infuses Victory with Added Meaning
Forward Ethan McLeod died in a car accident on 16 December, returning from the Bedford Town fixture. Teammates delivered this performance asa tribute amid the grieving process. The result ensures an enduring memorial through historic achievement. Final whistle triggered pitch invasion with jubilant fans lifting captain Dawson aloft.
Player Ratings Reflect Macclesfield’s Comprehensive Display
Paul Dawson claimed player of the match honours at 9.67 for leadership and goal. Isaac Buckley-Ricketts rated 9.40 for clinical finishing. Luke Duffy earned 9.36 for a pinpoint assist.
- Kay and D. Bughail-Mellor both scored 9.33, S. Heathcote 9.29. J. Edmondson, L. Lacey, R. Menayese, and L. Fensome registered ratings above 9.20. Even Palace’s C. Borthwick-Jackson rated 9.20 amid defeat.
Crystal Palace’s Extended Winless Run Continues
Palace celebrated FA Cup glory last season, yet crashed out at the first hurdle. Glasner’s youthful starting lineup included sufficient Premier League pedigree. Possession dominance failed to translate into meaningful opportunities.
A leadership vacuum emerged on the field as momentum slipped away. Johnson’s intervention arrived too late for a salvage operation. Unbeaten run extends to nine games across competitions since 11 December.
Rooney’s Management Philosophy Yields Giant-Killing
John Rooney instils confidence, transcending league standings. A purposeful approach evident against elite opposition. Squad construction prioritises collective resilience over individuals. Rapid ascent from North West Counties Premier Division underscores progress. Current form places play-offs within a handful of points despite bottom-half standing.
Rarity of Non-League Top-Flight FA Cup Victories
Macclesfield enters select nine-win list spanning 100 years. League position differential establishes new benchmark. On-pitch execution negated theoretical disadvantages. Deserved outcome validates merit beyond statistical improbability.
Tactical Execution Overcomes Divisional Disparity
Macclesfield generated more shots than Palace throughout the contest. Defensive structure nullified possession-based threats. Clinical conversion maximised limited opportunities. Palace’s profligacy epitomised by Drakes-Thomas header miss. Uche’s wayward strike compounded chance wastage.
Macclesfield Heroes Cement Place in Folklore
Dawson’s aerial prowess defined captaincy. Buckley-Ricketts’ poacher instinct sealed progression. Duffy’s delivery ranks among the competition’s finest assists. Collective ratings above 9.0 demonstrate squad cohesion. Home atmosphere amplified historic execution.
Fourth Round Progression Secures Financial Boost
Prize money and broadcast revenues bolster Phoenix Club sustainability. Palace’s title defence concludes prematurely. Non-league presence endures in the competition’s romantic tradition. Macclesfield’s rebirth narrative amplifies achievement resonance.
