Alfreton Town secured progression into the first round proper of the Emirates FA Cup with a hard-fought, determined win over Macclesfield FC this afternoon.

Billy Heath’s men battled long and hard to secure a solid victory and their place in the next round in a tireless performance that paid dividends.

It didn’t take long for Jordan Thewlis to mark his return to the team, as he volleyed in a knock-down from Ryan Taylor within three minutes to hand Alfreton the lead, following some good work by Billy Fewster, who managed to hook the ball back into the area initially.
Looking to extend the advantage, Liam Waldock found space for a shot outside the box, and was unlucky not to score, as Max Johnstone pulled off a stunning save at full-stretch to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Shortly after, Macclesfield made their way forward down the right-hand channel, with Neil Kengni cutting inside and drawing a foul from Nathan Newall, leaving the referee with no choice but to point to the spot.

However, Tom Peers was unable to convert, as George Willis guessed correctly and made a superb stop down to his left to deny a leveller for the visitors.

Despite the penalty miss, the Silkmen weren’t to be kept out for long, as an equaliser arrived via a stunning strike from Paul Dawson, as he picked the ball up thirty yards from goal, beat his man and struck a piledriver into the bottom corner to level the scores.

Not long into the second half, the Reds were awarded a penalty of their own, as Thewlis’ volley from close range was blocked on the line with an arm and gave Liam Waldock the opportunity to convert the spot-kick and retake the lead of Alfreton.

As the away side desperately searched for an equaliser, the home defence stood firm and was resilient, thwarting numerous forward surges, and eventually setting up a late goal to seal the match.

With Macclesfield committing men higher up the pitch, a sloppy pass at the back allowed for substitute Jake Day to blast the ball home and seal the win with a great strike across goal, firmly placing Alfreton into the hat for the first round.

ALFRETON: Willis; Clackstone, Lund, Digie, Wiley, Thewlis, Cantrill, Waldock [Perritt 78], Fewster [Grewal-Pollard 68], Newall, Taylor [Day 51].
MACCLESFIELD: Johnstone; Pemberton, Lee, Mendy, Heathcote, Dawson, Kengni, Rooney, Peers [Hurst 61], Curran [Campbell 76], Duffy [Rowe 72].

Report by Vaughan Creer