Macclesfield's fairytale run in the FA Cup came to an end as Sam Heathcote's 70th-minute own goal helped Premier League Brentford to a 1-0 win on Monday. 

The National League North side were unable to replicate their third-round heroics against Crystal Palace, with Brentford's reward a clash away to London rivals West Ham. 

Macclesfield started strongly and Romelle Donovan's pass across his own box was intercepted by Luke Duffy, but his shot flew over Hakon Valdimarsson's net from 20 yards out. 

Paul Dawson then tried his luck from distance, and his right-footed strike flew through the legs of Brentford captain Nathan Collins, but narrowly wide of the bottom-left corner. 

Brentford had to wait until the 36th minute to register their first shot on target, but Reiss Nelson's stinging drive from Aaron Hickey's cut back was repelled by Max Dearnley. 

The Bees began to turn the screw after the break and were rewarded 20 minutes from time when Hickey's cross was inadvertently headed into his own net by Heathcote.

Donovan should have put the game to bed soon after but blazed an attempt way over the crossbar, before D'Mani Mellor saw his header easily saved at the other end as the sixth-tier hosts bowed out of the competition. 

We exit this season’s Emirates FA Cup at the Fourth Round stage.

What a journey it has been from this group of lads

FT - Macclesfield FC 0-1 Brentford FC pic.twitter.com/7ik4wCGWE1

— Macclesfield FC (C) (@thesilkmen) February 16, 2026

Data Debrief: Brentford given a helping hand into the fifth round

Macclesfield were looking to become the first non-league team to knock out two top-flight sides in one FA Cup season since Millwall in 1913-14, and though they gave it their all, a moment of misfortune saw them exit against Premier League opposition. 

The Bees have now reached the fifth round of the FA Cup for just the second time in their last 19 seasons, equalling the run they had in 2018-19 under Thomas Frank, but they were made to work for their victory at The Leasing.com Stadium. 

Despite registering an expected goals (xG) total of 1.41 from their 15 shots, only one of those were on target, compared to Macclesfield's 0.47 from their eight attempts, with another top-flight side given a helping hand from the opposition. 

Indeed, in the third and fourth rounds this season, six of the eight own goals in the FA Cup have benefitted Premier League clubs.