Glenn Pennyfather predicted his current exciting crop of young players will be competing in lengthy FA Cup runs for many years to come after they were edged out this season by Football League club Macclesfield Town, Carl Tremarco netting the only goal of the Second Round replay.

 

Chelmsford pushed Gary Simpson’s Silkmen all the way before eventually bowing out at Moss Rose and Pennyfather praised the players for their efforts in the competition this season. “They should be proud of what they’ve achieved as it’s been a remarkable run,” Glenn explained. “This is a great period for our club.”

“We’ve only been separated from a Football League club by one chance and this run has given us the opportunity to show that we’re a good club who try to do things the right way, both on and off the pitch. The players in this team all have a bright future and this year won’t just be a one-off, they’ll be challenging for years to come.”

 

In a game of few chances, Tremarco struck a first-half winner to send Town through to a Round Three meeting against Bolton Wanderers at home, Glenn adding: “They were a lot sharper that us tonight and had that fitness a professional side should have. They didn’t create a lot and we limited them apart from the one chance that they took - they’re the fine lines you’re working with when you get to this level.”

 

Three changes were made to the starting eleven which met Bath City last Saturday as players returned from injury and suspension. Sam Corcoran and Max Cornhill were able to assume their places back in the heart of the midfield, Ben Nunn and Mark Haines making way as Adam Tann lined up in central defence again. On the left, Cliff Akurang came in for the cup tied Michael Bakare.

 

Chelmsford were under siege for the first few minutes as a low corner caused problems before eventually being cleared and, from the resulting flag kick, Shaun Brisley forced a header onto the crossbar and over. On 7 minutes City responded, Ricky Modeste’s right-wing cross finding Akurang at the far post who fired over from ten yards.

 

But Macclesfield made their two-division superiority count on 26 minutes when forward play was switched from right to left where Tremarco sprinted down the outside and fired across goalkeeper Stuart Searle. He got a hand to the strike but was unable to prevent it rolling across the line. Cornhill headed over from an Aiden Palmer corner and Corcoran struck a free kick over as the half drew to a close.

 

Two minutes beyond the break Tony Diagne, who scored the Silkmen’s equaliser at Melbourne, was handed the chance to wrap the game up from eight yards but his effort was deflected over. At the other end, Justin Miller’s delivery was angled at ‘keeper Jose Veiga via an Akurang flicked header.

 

Mid-way through the period Chelmsford’s hearts were in their mouths as George Donnelly found the side netting when clean through and a goal was disallowed following a debatable offside decision. Though the visitors, who could only muster a low effort from substitute David Rainford, had to accept a single-goal defeat.

 

Glenn summarised: “We took longer to get up to the tempo required tonight, maybe about half an hour. We had to deal with a lot of balls into the box and they got at us better than they did at Melbourne. I thought we came out and did much better in the second half, probably shading the half, but we didn’t penetrate enough and they defended well. Now we can focus on the league, which is our priority.”

 

City:

 

1 Stuart Searle

2 Justin Miller

3 Aiden Palmer

4 Adam Tann (C)

5 Kenny Clark

6 Craig Parker

7 Ricky Modeste

8 Sam Corcoran

9 Kezie Ibe

10 Max Cornhill

11 Cliff Akurang

 

12 Joe Benjamin

14 Jermaine Brown

15 Greg Morgan (On for Akurang, 66)

16 Ben Nunn

17 David Rainford (On for Modeste, 59)

18 Tyrone Scarlett

19 Ashley Harrison (GK)

 

Macclesfield Town: Jose Veiga (1), Jon Bateson (2), Carl Tremarco (3), Nathaniel Brown (5), George Donnelly (9) (Vinny Mukendi [10], 90+3), Colin Daniel (11), Arnaud Mendy (12), Tony Diagne (14), Shaun Brisley (16), Sam Wedgbury (17), Matthew Hamshaw (20). Unused Substitutes: Paul Morgan (6), Waide Fairhurst (18), Tom Fisher (19), Steve Collis (22), James Bolton (32), George Whitelock (33).

 

Bookings: City: Akurang (52, foul), Clark (68, foul), Miller (90+2, foul). Macclesfield: Brown (74, persistently infringing the laws of the game).

 

Referee: Darren Drysdale (Digby, Lincolnshire).

 

Assistant Referees: Ken Haycock (Bradford) and Christopher Akers (Doncaster).

 

Fourth Official: Andrew Madley (Ossett).

 

Attendance: 1,607.

 

City Man of the Match: Adam Tann.