Macclesfield secured their place in the proper rounds of the FA Cup after second-half goals from George Wilson, Danny Elliott, and Josh Kay helped them overcome Anstey Nomads. The club, renowned for their remarkable victory over Crystal Palace in the third round last season, faced a challenging path to replicate their success this year. They survived a last-minute equalizer from Elliott in their previous match before progressing comfortably in this latest fixture.
In other notable National League action, Harrogate Town required a late double from Ellis Taylor to clinch a 3-1 victory against Bury, narrowly avoiding an upset by the National League North side. Barrow earned a 2-0 win at Gloucester City thanks to second-half strikes from Thierry Larry-Fairweather and Arian Allen. Meanwhile, Forest Green Rovers delivered a dominant 5-0 result against Chesham United, despite a modest attendance of 529 spectators. Forest Green will now prepare for a rematch against Luton Town, replicating last season’s first-round tie.
Leatherhead briefly shocked Yeovil Town with a second-minute goal from Kofi Anokye-Boadi, but the National League team responded strongly to win 5-2 at Huish Park. Slavi Spasov scored twice to lead the comeback. FC United of Manchester also suffered a heavy 6-2 defeat at home against their National League rivals Altrincham in their derby encounter. Altrincham’s Leo Farrell and Aidan Barlow each scored twice, supported by goals from Jimmy Knowles and Sam Taylor.
In a closely contested FA Cup qualifying match, Church finished strongly against Harborough Town. Jacob Newton opened the scoring with an impressive 20-yard strike and added two more goals following set-piece situations. Jamey Osborne also contributed with a free-kick goal, while Miracle Okafor finished confidently one-on-one to complete a 4-0 victory. Church’s goalkeeper, Redman Evans, further reinforced the result by saving a penalty from Bartosz Cybulski in the second half.
Newton described recent frustrations in his career, citing the challenges of overcoming perceptions tied to age. At 35, he acknowledged the doubts surrounding older players but emphasized his fitness and performance levels remain high. Newton highlighted the supportive role of his family and coach during difficult periods and expressed gratitude for the renewed appreciation he feels within the club.