FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round

Stourbridge 0, Macclesfield Town 5

GLASSBOYS boss Gary Hackett had no complaints after his side were sent crashing out of the FA Cup by impressive National League leaders Macclesfield.

The Glassboys found themselves with a mountain to climb within 12 minutes of the kick-off after quickly going 2-0 down following a couple of clinical strikes from Danny Whitehead and Tyrone Marsh.

But a third Macclesfield goal on the stroke of half time from Elliott Durrell effectively put this cup tie to bed and from that point, there was no way back.

Honest Hackett admitted afterwards: "We were beaten by a lot of quality. They had six shots on target and five of them flew in.

"That's why they are flying high in the National League at the moment.

"At 2-0 down, we had a couple of chances to get back into the game, but the third goal did deflate us a bit."

Macclesfield struck first after nine minutes when Stourbridge defender Stuart Pierpoint headed Durrell's corner straight into the path of the waiting Whitehead who rammed home a first time shot to give Glassboys goalkeeper Matt Gould little chance.

Stourbridge went straight back upfield and forced a corner, from which, Macclesfield goalkeeper Shwan Jalal saved a routine header from Jack Duggan and quickly hoofed the ball downfield for Marsh to make no mistake with a well placed goal.

Stourbridge could consider themselves unlucky when the ball fell unkindly for them following a couple of goalmouth melees, with first Tranmere Rovers target Jordan Archer and then Aaron Forde being denied.

But any prospects of a recovery were left in ruins when Macclesfield fired home a third goal in the 45th minute, Durrell finishing off a string of precision passes to net with a stunning shot on the turn that left Gould hopelessly beaten.

Stourbridge started the second half with much more purpose and should been awarded a penalty on 54 minutes when speedy Matt Dodd was brought down by Macclesfield full back David Fitzpatrick.

The foul looked to have taken place well within the penalty area but referee Karl Evans infuriated the home support by instead awarding a free kick outside the area.

It proved of little consequence as Macclesfield added a fourth goal on 69 minutes when a Whitehead free kick was only half cleared straight back to the well placed Koby Arthur, who created an opening before cracking home a glorious shot from the edge of the box.

Macclesfield wrapped up victory on 80 minutes with their fifth and possibly best goal when Scott Burgess smacked home a spectacular volley after Stourbridge had been caught out on the break.

There wasn't even the possibility of a consolation goal when a late Forde effort was kept out by Jalal at the second attempt.

Macclesfield manager John Askey was complimentary afterwards and insisted: "We scored goals at the right time. Stourbridge caused us problems at corners, free-kicks and throw-ins and if we hadn't scored those early goals, it could have been a different story.

"I was really pleased with our performance as they players are full of confidence at the moment."

Stourbridge: Gould; Christophorou (O'Callaghan 64), Pierpoint, McCone, Duggan, Forde, Dodd, Broadhurst (Canavan 83), Archer, Green (Cooke 59), Tonks. Subs not used: Rowe, Kiembi, Timmins.

Macclesfield Town: Jalal; Hodgkiss, Fitzpatrick ( Hancox 74), Lowe, Kennedy, Burgess, Durrell (Whittaker 68), Marsh (Toure 76), Whitehead, Arthur, Lloyd. Subs not used: Pilkington, Wilson, Ramsbottom, Babba.

Referee: Karl Evans Attendance: 1152