John McCombe’s goal was enough to cause the biggest upset of The Emirates FA Cup first round as National League side Macclesfield Town edged a 1-0 victory away to Walsall.
The League One side failed to find a response after McCombe glanced home a Danny Whitaker free-kick in the 23rd minute, despite 46 places existing between the two sides.
The hosts could have taken the lead after only nine minutes, but Joe Edwards’ fine solo effort was saved by Craig Ross, before the Silkmen, who have defeated Swindon Town and Cardiff City in the FA Cup in recent seasons, broke the deadlock.
The Emirates FA Cup
First Round
Saturday 5 November 2016
By Katie Falkingham
They could have doubled their advantage when Jack Sampson struck the post just after the break, but held on to send Walsall packing.
Fellow National League side Solihull Moors earned a home replay with League Two Yeovil Town after they overcame a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2.
The Glovers took an early lead through Ryan Hedges before Otis Khan doubled their advantage at Huish Park, only for Jack Byrne to score twice in seven minutes to ensure a repeat tie.
Earlier in the day, Oxford United put five past seventh-tier Merstham with no reply, with Kane Hemmings scoring a brace plus further goals from Alex MacDonald, Josh Ruffels and Tyler Roberts.
Braintree Town bettered that scoreline with a 7-0 victory at home to Eastbourne Borough, with George Elokobi and Lee Barnard scoring two apiece, while Northampton Town ran out 6-0 winners over non-league Harrow Borough.
There was a nine-goal thriller at Princes Park as Sutton United booked their place in the second round with a 6-3 victory away to Dartford, while Woking overcame Stockport County to win 4-2.
As well as the fixture between Yeovil and Solihull Moors, eight other games will go to replays, as 10-man Crawley Town came from a goal down to secure a 1-1 draw with Bristol Rovers.
National League North side Brackley Town will welcome Gillingham back to St. James Park after they secured a 2-2 draw with the Gills, three years after knocking them out of the competition, while Dagenham & Redbridge and FC Halifax Town played out the only 0-0 of the round.
There were 1-1 draws in the ties between Cambridge United and Dover Athletic, Cheltenham Town and Crewe Alexandra, Westfields and Curzon Ashton, plus Whitehawk and Stourbridge, while Bury gave away a two-goal advantage to draw 2-2 with AFC Wimbledon in an all-League One clash.
Just a solitary goal from Remie Streete was needed for Port Vale as they booked their spot in the second round draw with a 1-0 victory over Stevenage, and it was the same story in the game between Bolton Wanderers and Grimsby Town, Liam Trotter’s strike the difference at the Macron Stadium.
Accrington Stanley wrapped up a 2-1 win away to Bradford City, while Charlton Athletic dominated proceedings in a 3-1 victory at home to League One leaders Scunthorpe United.
And it was the same scoreline in the tie between Exeter City and Luton Town, as Danny Hylton scored two penalties to seal a 3-1 win for the 10-man Hatters, while MK Dons withheld late pressure from non-league Spennymoor Town to win 3-2, having initially built a three-goal advantage inside the opening 20 minutes.
