Macclesfield were unable to recreate the magic of last month’s FA Cup win over Crystal Palace, with a Sam Heathcote own goal sending Brentford through to the fifth round after a spirited contest at Moss Rose.
Premier League side Brentford sat 116 places above the National League North team at the start of the evening – one less than the Palace side who were famously humbled here in January – but the gulf between the teams was turned on its head as John Rooney’s part-timers dominated the first half.
