Bridlington Town net historic FA Trophy shock win against National League North high-flyers Macclesfield
Bridlington Town reached the third round of the FA Trophy for the first time in their history with a deserved 1–0 victory over National League North side Macclesfield FC.
Casey Stewart scored the winner in the 59th minute in front of 833 at Queensgate.
The Seasiders started on the front foot and nearly took the lead in the fifth minute. Will Marshall played a short corner to Stewart, who returned the ball for Marshall to cross.
Destiny Nnenanya rose to meet it, but his header crashed off the crossbar.
A minute later, Nnenanya got a touch to a free-kick at the near post, only for Paul Cooper to make the save.
Nnenanya threatened again after pouncing on a loose pass from Muhamed Diomande, dragging a low shot just wide of the far post.
On 14 minutes, Luca Bolino won possession and cut the ball back for Marshall, whose first-time effort flashed wide.
Macclesfield threatened on the breakthrough Aiden George and Vernon Parny, but Bridlington tracked back quickly.
Tom Allan threw himself in the way of a shot in the 16th minute before the hosts cleared their lines.
Parny had a clearer opening just before the half-hour, getting past Alex Markham and firing a powerful shot that Alex Baird turned behind for a corner.
Markham went close at the other end on 33 minutes, firing narrowly over from the edge of the box after a good spell of passing.
Macclesfield replaced Cameron Borthwick-Jackson with Tom Wilson in the 42nd minute. A minute later, a missed clearance sent Nnenanya through on goal. He got his shot away with defenders closing in, but Cooper held it to keep it goalless at half-time.
The Silkmen started the second half brightly. Fin Shrimpton played Josh Kay through one-on-one with Baird, but Kay sent his effort wide of the far post.
Bridlington responded in the 51st minute when Eddie Kettlewell had a chance, but Cooper narrowed the angle and made a fine save.
The breakthrough came eight minutes late, Ben Tweed delivered a free-kick from the left and Allan headed it back across goal for Stewart to slot home, sending the Queensgate crowd into raptures.
The Seasiders kept pushing for a second. Bolino fired narrowly passed the far post on 67 minutes, and six minutes later Cooper saved Allan’s header from another Tweed free-kick.
Stewart couldn’t get a shot away in the scramble that followed, and the ball was worked out to Kyle Fanning, who fired into the side-netting.
Stewart nearly doubled his tally on 76 minutes, meeting Bolino’s cross with a diving header that flashed just past the post.
Hero Stewart received a standing ovation when Riley Cooper replaced him in the 85th minute.
Macclesfield pushed for an equaliser to take the tie to penalties, but Bridlington stood firm through five minutes of stoppage-time to book their place in the third round.