Heathcote own goal sends Brentford through in FA Cup
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.
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The National League North side was unable to replicate its third-round heroics against Crystal Palace, with Brentford's reward a clash away to London rival 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.
Macclesfield was looking to become the first non-league team to knock out two top-flight sides in one FA Cup season since Millwall in 1913-1914, and though it gave its all, a moment of misfortune saw it exit against Premier League opposition.
The Bees have reached the fifth round of the FA Cup for just the second time in their last 19 seasons, equalling the run they had in 2018-2019 under Thomas Frank, but they were made to work for their victory at The Leasing.com Stadium.
Indeed, in the third and fourth rounds this season, six of the eight own goals in the FA Cup have benefitted Premier League clubs.




























