Walsall 0 Macclesfield 1 - Report and pictures

Analysis

John McCome's first half header was enough to send the National League outfit into the second round following an uninspired performance from Jon Whitney's side.

Despite entering the clash having gone six games unbeaten, the Saddlers struggled to create clear goal scoring opportunities or move the ball with any real tempo.

The Silkemen meanwhile were organised and happy to hussle and harry their opponents at every opportunity – with their workrate ensuring they deserved their victory in the world's oldest cup competition.

Whitney promised in the build-up to the game that he would name his strongest side for the visit of John Askey's men.

And the boss stayed true to his word, with just three changes from the team that began the 1-1 draw against Coventry – two of which were enforced.

Top scorer Simeon Jackson returned up front in place of Andreas Makris as the Saddlers stuck to their favoured 4-2-3-1 system.

Elsewhere, Josh Ginnelly and Matt Preston were handed a chance to impress with James O'Connor (groin) and Kieron Morris (ankle) not risked with minor knocks.

With more than 40 places separating them in the football pyramid, Walsall were quick to exert their extra quality on the tie with Whitney's men dominating possession in the opening 20 minutes.

And they almost broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion when Joe Edwards collected the ball 40-yards from goal and surged past a number of challenges to get into the box.

The midfielder looked destined to open his Saddlers account with a fine individual goal, but the 26-year-old then saw his low strike well smothered by Macclesfield keeper Craig Ross.

Despite enjoying the vast majority of possession, Walsall had struggled to break through a resolute Macclesfield defence.

And they were made to pay when Matt Preston's weak header saw Neil Etheridge come hurtling out of his box before bringing down Paul Lewis 20-yards from goal.

The keeper was rightly booked for the challenge with Macclesfield taking the lead from the resultant free-kick when John McCombe headed home Danny Whitaker's delivery.

Suddenly full of confidence, The Silkmen came a whisker away from grabbing a second when winger Danny Rowe cut inside and bent a strike towards the bottom left corner.

Fortunately, Etheridge was equal to the effort with the glovesman getting enough on the ball to parry it away from goal and from the loitering Lewis who otherwise would have had a tap in.

Walsall rallied as the half-time whistle approached with Erhun Oztumer seeing a venomous drive beaten away by Ross before Scott Laird agonisingly poked wide following Franck Moussa's cross.

But the two teams made their way off at the break with little to separate them, with Whitney's side guilty of not creating enough in the final third.

Macclesfield should have doubled their lead 30 seconds after the re-start when Etheridge inexplicably passed the ball straight to Jack Sampson.

The striker controlled the loose ball and then looked to go around the keeper but in doing so made the angle tight with his effort cannoning off the outside of the post before going wide.

Whitney's side were looking lacklustre in possession with too many passes going astray and the ball not being moved at a quick enough tempo.

But they almost pulled level following a spell of pinball in the Macclesfield box with Jackson and Kevin Toner both seeing efforts well stopped by Ross.

Whitney made his first change just past the hour mark with Amadou Bakayoko replacing Moussa. Makris was then introduced for Ginnelly.

But while the Saddlers knocked on the door for the remaining 20 minutes, clear goal scoring oppertunites proved few and far between with Macclesfield's work rate ensuring they earned their place in the second round.

Key moments

9 Joe Edwards pickes up the ball 40-yards from goal and rides a number of challenges to make his way into the box. But the midfielder then sees a low strike saved by Craig Ross.

10 Jack Sampson managed to nick the ball past Neil Etheridge after the keeper comes darting out of his goal by Matt Preston is in the right place to clear.

22 Paul Lewis pounces on Matt Preston's weak header and is taken out by Neil Etheridge just outside the box – with the keeper yellow carded for the challenge.

23 GOAL MACCLESFIELD. From the resultant free-kick, John McCombe heads home.

31 Winger Danny Rowe cuts inside and sees a left-footed drive well parried by Etheridge.

37 David Fitzpatrick's long-range strike is pushed away by Etheridge.

38 Ross makes a spectacular one-handed save to palm away Erhun Oztumer's venomous drive.

45 Franck Moussa's right-wing cross falls for Scott Laird who pokes wide.

46 Etheridge inexplicably passed the ball to Jack Sampson but the forward can only hit the post from a tight angle after rounding the keeper.

58 Pin ball in the visitors box with Simeon Jackson and Kevin Toner going close but Ross saves both efforts.

64 Fantastic strike from Lewis sails just over for Macclesfield.

70 Erhun Oztumer's strike from 25-yards whistles over the bar.

81 Laird with a low drive from 18-yards which Ross tips around the post.

85 Whitaker curls wide from 12-yards for the visitors.

88 Jackson with a strike from 20 yards that is arrowed towards the post but wide.

Teams

Walsall: Etheridge, McCarthy, Preston, Toner, Laird, Edwards, Chambers, Ginnelly (Makris 76), Oztumer, Moussa (Bakayoko 64), Jackson.

Subs not used: MacGillivray, Dobson, Osbourne, Kinsella, Roberts.

Macclesfield: Ross, Halls, Fitzpatrick, Byrne (Hancox 45), Pilkington, McCombe, Lewis, Sampson, Rowe, James, Whitaker.

Subs not used: Branagan, Macreth, Holroyd, Sutherland, Roberts, Madeley.