Own goal ends Macclesfield's FA Cup fairytale against Brentford
Topic:Soccer
23m ago23 minutes agoMon 16 Feb 2026 at 9:51pm
Soccer player with hands on head, grimaces after conceding own goal
An own goal from Sam Heathcote has ended Macclesfield's FA Cup run. (Getty Images: PA Images/ Martin Rickett)
In short:
English Premier League side Brentford has advanced to the fifth round of the FA Cup, defeating non-league club Macclesfield 1-0.
Macclesfield made history in the tournament, defeating Premier League side and FA Cup holders Crystal Palace in one of the competition's biggest upsets.
What's next?
Text will face West Ham United in the round of the FA Cup.
Non-league English football club Macclesfield's tremendous FA Cup run has come to an end, falling to Premier League side Brentford on Tuesday, AEDT.
An own goal midway through the second half by Macclesfield's Sam Heathcote ended the deadlock, and would lead to the 1-0 win for Brentford.
Sixth-tier Macclesfield, who knocked out holders Crystal Palace in the previous round, frustrated their Premier League opponents in the first half of their fourth-round tie.
Goalkeeper Max Dearnley made some fine saves, denying Brentford's Reiss Nelson from close range.
Macclesfield's James Dawson came closest to scoring for the hosts with a long-range effort that sailed just wide.
After the break, Brentford increased the pressure, forcing Dearnley to react quickly to keep out Kaye Furo's close-range header.
However, the goalkeeper was beaten when Heathcote inadvertently headed Aaron Hickey's cross into his own net while attempting to clear in the 70th minute.
The result secured Brentford a fifth-round tie against West Ham United. Macclesfield bowed out of the competition after a brilliant run and another strong performance against top-flight opposition.
The final match of the FA Cup fourth round will be played on March 4, AEDT, with third-tier side Port Vale hosting second-tier club Bristol City.
The winner of that match will play Sunderland.
FA Cup fifth-round draw
Fulham vs Southampton
Port Vale or Bristol City vs Sunderland
Newcastle United vs Manchester City
Leeds United vs Norwich City
Mansfield Town vs Arsenal
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Liverpool
Wrexham vs Chelsea
West Ham United vs Brentford
Reuters
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Posted23m ago23 minutes agoMon 16 Feb 2026 at 9:51pm, updated13m ago13 minutes agoMon 16 Feb 2026 at 10:01pm
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