Rebels exit FA Cup in Second Round

In front of a record-breaking crowd of 2,500 at a sold-out Arbour Park, Slough Town’s FA Cup dream was brought to a heartbreaking end as Macclesfield triumphed 3-1 after extra time to reach the Third Round for the first time since the club’s reformation.

With live national television coverage and both clubs seeking to make history by progressing beyond the Second Round for the first time, the stage was set for a monumental afternoon in SL2 — and the occasion delivered drama in abundance.

The game began at breakneck pace, Macclesfield earning an early corner inside two minutes which Luis Lacey swung into the box. Sam Heathcote rose highest, but his looping header was comfortably claimed by Adam Desbois. Straight from the restart, a long kick forward by the Slough goalkeeper bounced dangerously inside the Macclesfield area, with Wiktor Makowski closing in on Max Dearnley before being penalised for a foul.

Slough continued to test the Silkmen with direct balls forward into the channels as the rain poured down, and at the other end Tarik Gidaree produced the first real moment of attacking intent on 13 minutes. Twisting and turning on the right flank, he created space for himself before firing a powerful effort across the face of goal that fizzed past a line of waiting bodies and out for a throw-in.

Moments later, Ruben Shakpoke was hauled down around 25 yards from goal, presenting Scott Davies with a tempting free-kick opportunity, but the effort struck the Macclesfield wall. The early exchanges were intense, but neither side were prepared to overcommit.

A quieter spell followed midway through the half as the match settled into a physical midfield battle, though Slough carved out another promising opening when Tyrique Clarke released Tyrese Dyce in space on the left. The wing-back drove into the box and delivered a dangerous low ball across the six-yard area that narrowly evaded every amber shirt.

Chances came at both ends shortly after, with Dyce and Max Woltman both going close without truly testing either goalkeeper. Davies then attempted to catch Dearnley out with an audacious free kick from deep inside the Slough half, but his strike drifted just over the bar.

The Silkmen’s defensive resilience was repeatedly showcased by Rollin Menayese, who produced a series of vital interventions, none more important than on 34 minutes when he recovered superbly to halt Johnny Goddard as Slough threatened to break. Moments later, Shakpoke delayed his pass to Makowski inside the box, allowing Menayese to recover again with impeccable timing to dispossess the striker.

Luke Duffy tested Desbois with a low free kick on 38 minutes, before Kiki Oshilaja went into the book for a late challenge as he attempted to recover from a momentary error. Menayese himself was then booked a few minutes later for catching the referee’s eye once too often.

Both sides traded late first-half half chances. D’Mani Mellor laid the ball off cleverly for Danny Elliott, whose shot on the turn was well blocked, while at the other end Makowski timed his run to perfection before going to ground inside the box under pressure — but referee Aaron Farmer waved play on. Deep into stoppage time, Desbois spilled a free kick into the danger area before recovering well to smother the loose ball, ensuring the sides went in level at the break.

Macclesfield emerged from the interval with far greater urgency. Within two minutes Mellor whipped in a dangerous ball that Reiss Greenidge had to head behind under pressure. From the resulting corner, Desbois produced a magnificent reaction save to deny Lewis Fensome’s header as the Silkmen laid siege to the Slough goal with three set-pieces in quick succession.

The pressure intensified further when Mellor kept Luke Duffy’s deep cross alive at the back post, pulling it back for Woltman, who somehow scooped over from just a couple of yards out with the goal at his mercy. Elliott then attempted to catch Desbois off guard with a quick strike before testing the keeper again from range — but the Slough number one stood firm.

With the momentum firmly with the visitors, Slough were forced into changes. Tarik Gidaree and Tyrese Dyce — both gradually returning after injury — were both withdrawn, replaced by Jared Myers and Peter Ojemen. Just minutes later, the game’s defining moment arrived.

On 66 minutes, a neat Macclesfield move resulted in Mellor racing into the penalty area and going to ground under a challenge from Oshilaja, who looked to have got a toe to the ball to divert it away from the attacker. The referee, however, pointed to the spot and produced a second yellow card for the Slough defender, reducing the Rebels to ten men. Two minutes later, Elliott converted the penalty via the inside of the post to give Macclesfield the lead.

Further substitutions followed as Scott Davies threw caution to the wind in search of a response, with Harvey Walker, Jaiden Drakes-Thomas and Luke Holness all introduced. Despite being a man down, Slough refused to yield. Elliott continued to threaten, drawing a low save from Desbois, while Edmondson and Whitehead each went agonisingly close to doubling the visitors’ advantage.

Then, with five minutes of normal time remaining, came the moment that reignited the contest. Walker darted into the box and was upended, drawing Slough a lifeline penalty. Makowski stepped forward and delivered under enormous pressure, calmly sending Dearnley the wrong way to level the scores at 1-1 and send Arbour Park into raptures.

Nine minutes of stoppage time followed, and Slough almost completed an extraordinary turnaround when a quick free-kick released Walker down the left and his inch-perfect delivery narrowly evaded Makowski inside the six-yard box. With seconds remaining, Davies delivered one final free kick into the danger area, but the Macclesfield defence scrambled clear and extra time beckoned.

Just three minutes into the additional period, the Silkmen struck with devastating quality. From distance, James Edmondson unleashed a magnificent strike that dipped under the crossbar and into the top corner, leaving Desbois helpless and the travelling support in delirium.

Slough attempted to respond immediately. Davies struck a free kick into the wall, Walker drove into the box again and delivered a powerful ball that Dearnley clutched to his chest, Myers fired a teasing cross that almost crept inside the far post, and Holness whipped a low ball across the face of goal that both Walker and Ojemen agonisingly failed to connect with.

Macclesfield, however, remained dangerous on the break. Justin Johnson rattled the crossbar with a stunning effort from just inside the box as the game swung end to end despite the mounting fatigue.

A lengthy delay followed when Brandon Lee was stretchered off with what appeared to be a serious leg injury, leaving the contest at ten versus ten for the second period of extra time.

Slough pressed relentlessly as the clock ticked down. In the final minute of normal extra time, Reiss Greenidge unleashed a ferocious drive that Dearnley somehow beat away, before denying Ojemen on the rebound from point-blank range. The goalkeeper was then booked for time-wasting as six minutes of added time were announced.

With Slough flooding forward, another corner caused chaos in the box as Greenidge once again kept the ball alive under pressure. But with the Rebels committed forwards in desperation, Macclesfield delivered the decisive blow in the seventh minute of added time. A loose ball was seized upon by substitute Regan Griffiths, who smashed a low, powerful strike from distance beyond Desbois to seal the tie at 3-1.

After 130 exhausting, emotional minutes, the referee’s whistle finally confirmed Macclesfield’s passage into the Third Round — and brought Slough’s heroic cup run to an agonising close.

Reduced to ten men for more than an hour, the Rebels showed extraordinary resilience, spirit and belief, dragging themselves back from the brink before ultimately succumbing to two moments of outstanding quality. On a historic afternoon for the club, in front of the biggest crowd Arbour Park has hosted and a national television audience, Slough Town left absolutely everything on the pitch.

Heartbreak, yes — but also immense pride.