MACCLESFIELD Town provided the Greater Manchester shock of the FA Cup first round proper as they left League One Walsall with a 1-0 win.
A first half strike from John McCombe was enough for the Vanarama National League side to ensure progression into the second round draw, which takes place on Monday evening.
It took an equaliser in the last 10 minutes to ensure Tamesiders Curzon Ashton weren’t knocked out by the lowest side left in this year’s competition: Westfields FC.
Adam Morgan scored his first goal for the Nash to spare their blushes after the Hereford-based side had previously gone ahead through a Craig Jones penalty.
It was the end of the road however for Vanarama National League North clubs Stockport County and Altrincham after they fell victim to National League opposition in Woking and Lincoln City respectively.
County started brightly and went ahead through Jimmy Ball – who later grabbed his second – but it proved in vein as Woking’s dominance shone through in the 4-2 victory for The Cards.
Altrincham, meanwhile, have taken solace in the cup after a bitterly disappointing start to their league campaign, but Sincil Bank was a hellish, rather than heavenly, way to spend the weekend.
The 2-1 defeat after City goals from Sean Raggett and Alan Power ensured that a late goal by Alty defender John Cyrus was a mere consolation for the travelling Robins.
Westfields almost pull-off a famous cup upset
PA Image: Westfields FC’s Craig Jones celebrates after opening the scoring from the penalty spot
At AllPay park there was a match that, despite the difference in league position, was up for grabs as both sides felt confident of progressing to the FA Cup second round.
Westfields were making their sixth appearance in this season’s competition and having formed in 1966, reached the first round proper for the first time ever in their 50-year history.
The Herefordshire club have already beaten Stourport Swifts, Tividale, St Ives Town, Highgate United, Walton Casuals and Leiston.
And it appeared their fairytale run in their anniversary year was set to go on after a first half opener from the penalty spot.
A clumsy challenge allowed Craig Jones to step up and he made no mistake in ensuring the hosts seized the advantage heading into half-time.
But with nine minutes of the game remaining, the Vanarama National League North club made their unrelenting pressure count.
The Nash’s 26 shots, in comparison to the hosts’ eight, saw one find the net as Morgan was in the right place to convert his first goal for the club.
The Imps march on to the second round
Credit: Lincoln City FC | Alan Power scores Lincoln’s second goal of the game after being played in by Arnold
These two sides couldn’t have come together with much more contrasting league forms as high-flying Lincoln City have one eye on the Football League, while Altrincham flutter with Vanarama National League North relegation.
Jim Harvey’s side have impressed in the cup, however, with wins over Morpeth Town and Matlock Town ensuring a spot in the first round.
But it was to be too high a mountain to climb against Danny Cowley’s Imps after the hosts took control following an opener from defender Sean Raggett.
Lincoln, who thought they had doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time through talismanic striker Matt Rhead, did add breathing space between themselves and Alty when Alan Power slotted home.
Summer signing from Grimsby Town, Nathan Arnold, picked up a loose clearance from Altrincham’s Cyrus before playing in Power who easily caressed the ball into the net.
Yet the drama was not over as with 15 minutes remaining, Altrincham pulled a goal back through Cyrus to ensure a frantic end to the match.
An inswinging corner was met by the leaping Cyrus who made amends for his earlier mistake to allow Power to double Lincoln’s lead.
Yet despite late pressure from Harvey’s side it was to be their last action in the competition as Cowley’s Lincoln side showed their defensive resilience to ensure their name – and ball number 35 – is in Monday’s hat for the draw.
More to follow.
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