Match report: AFC Totton suffer 6-3 FA Cup defeat at Macclesfield in first round

Gracious AFC Totton boss Jimmy Ball admits the better team won their nine-goal FA Cup tie on Saturday.

The National League South Stags saw their cup run come to an end in Macclesfield after an enthralling encounter finished 6-3 to the National League North hosts, the first-round tie having been level at 3-3 at half-time.

Ball said: “It was quite a game!

“I have to doff my cap to the opposition. They were very good on the day. They’re a strong football club with huge ambitions.

“We had a good first half, went toe-to-toe with them, and we weren’t able to maintain those levels.

“The scoreline looks like we were well beaten - but it didn’t feel like that.”

The deadlock was broken six minutes in when Macclesfield went ahead but, moments later, visiting forward Tony Lee levelled the scores as he glanced a header of his own in from midfielder Craig Tanner’s in-swinging cross in front of a 2,197-strong attendance.

While John Rooney’s men made it 2-1 - the away team failing to clear their lines after goalkeeper Matt Hall had made the initial save - striker Scott Rendell scored three minutes later to bring the Stags onto level terms once more.

Lee turned provider this time following a delicate pass from midfielder Christie Ward.

Rendell gave Totton the lead for the first time in the contest, rifling a terrific volley home in the 27th minute, only for home forward Danny Elliott to complete a hat-trick on 36 minutes to culminate a whirlwind first period.

Within a minute of the second half starting, Macclesfield took a 4-3 lead and there was no way back for Totton this time.

Macclesfield added a fifth in the 64th minute and completed the scoring with 11 minutes left to play.

“We conceded a minute into the second half, which didn’t help,” conceded Ball. “That took the stuffing right out of us.

“We had made some changes that we felt would solidify us a bit but, as soon as they scored, we had to go toe-to-toe with them again.

“We didn’t perform as a collective as we could have. Some did and some didn’t (play well) but I don’t want to take away from the opposition.

“They deserve to be in the next round.”

Totton return to league matters at home to Maidenhead tomorrow (Tuesday) night before this weekend’s visit of Ebbsfleet.

The Stags visit Worthing in the league on Tuesday.

AFC Totton: M.Hall, B.Haunstrup (C.Batzelis 46mins), L.Hallett, L.Hodson (R.Vigrass 32mins), S.Rendell, T.Lee (J.Emmanuel-Thomas 80mins), M.Linton (A.Clarke 45mins), D.Rose (R.Jackson 73mins), C.Ward, T.Cordner, C.Tanner.