The magic of the FA Cup was in full flow on Saturday afternoon as the third round delivered a potential seismic shock, with National League North side Macclesfield taking a stunning 2-0 lead against the holders, Crystal Palace.
Afternoon Drama and Giant-Killing Acts
As the 3pm kick-offs approached, the focus was firmly on events at Moss Rose. Isaac Buckley-Ricketts sent the home fans into delirium on the hour mark, poking home to double Macclesfield's lead against the Premier League Eagles. The goal followed an earlier strike, putting the part-timers on the brink of a historic victory with just 30 minutes remaining.
Elsewhere, Sunderland held a precious 1-0 advantage at Goodison Park, with Eliezer Mayenda coming agonisingly close to sealing the tie when he struck the post. David Moyes's Everton, wearing a special dark blue FA Cup kit, had 20 minutes to find an equaliser against the Championship side.
Early Kick-Off Round-Up
The early matches provided plenty of goals. Wolverhampton Wanderers were in commanding form, leading Shrewsbury Town 4-1. Meanwhile, Leicester City held a comfortable 2-0 lead away at Cheltenham Town.
The afternoon's narrative was set in the preamble, which reflected on the changing face of the competition. It noted the end of semi-final replays and neutral venues other than Wembley, using the example of Sheffield Wednesday's past glories and current struggles in contrast to Brentford's modern rise.
Looking Ahead to the 3pm Fixtures
Attention now turns to the eight fixtures scheduled for a 3pm start. The action spans from the potential banana skin of Boreham Wood versus Burton Albion to the likely more straightforward task for Manchester City at home to Exeter City.
One of the standout ties sees Brentford travel to face a Sheffield Wednesday side languishing at the foot of the Championship, with the Bees heavily favoured to progress. Live team news for these matches was promised as the clock ticked towards kick-off.
For minute-by-minute coverage of the unfolding drama at Moss Rose, readers were directed to a dedicated live blog for the Macclesfield versus Crystal Palace clash.
