Macclesfield manager John Rooney was left in disbelief by their stunning FA Cup upset against holders Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Captain Paul Dawson and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts scored the all-important goals for the non-league side, who held on during a nervy finish after Yeremy Pino’s 90th-minute free-kick.

Macclesfield became the first non-league team to eliminate the defending champions since Palace knocked out Wolves in the 1908-09 first round.

And they are the first non-league team to score twice in an FA Cup game against the holders since Runcorn versus Preston in 1939.

It will go down as one of the all-time biggest upsets in the competition's history, given the 117 places that separate the teams in the English football pyramid, and Rooney, younger brother of Wayne, expressed his pride in Macclesfield.

"I can't believe it, we never thought we would be in this position," he told BBC Sport.

"We were incredible from the first minute. I thought we were deserved winners. I couldn't be any prouder of the lads.

"I couldn't have asked any more of them, and you can see the joy in them."

Dawson has been involved in three goals in his two appearances in the FA Cup proper (two goals, one assist).

His opening goal in this match saw him become the first non-league player to score in the competition against the holders since Rocky Baptiste for Farnborough Town against Arsenal in 2003.

"Dawson is one of them; he is unbelievable in the air," Rooney said of his captain.

"He scores goals from the field and can play centre half; he puts his head where his goals are. He has that passion, and sometimes we have to rein him in a bit, but he was incredible. He is a class clown.

"I didn't think it was possible, but there is that little bit of hope that anything can happen on the day."

And Dawson himself echoed Rooney’s pride in the team for pulling off the shocking result.

"I am very happy but very tired," he told BBC One. "I felt like we kept our shape really well, and they didn't make very much.

"I was surprised [with the win] like I said before, the gaffer gave us a game plan, and we all stuck to it and got where we wanted to be.

"I was very calm coming into it and on the pitch. I do get in a few of them head-to-heads each week, so this head isn't going to get that hurt.

"Macclesfield means the world to me. It's an immense achievement. I am proud of the boys and proud of the fans. It's a really big community club."