Macclesfield FC have secured a spot in the end-of-season play-offs after a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Merthyr Town in South Wales on 11 April 2026.
The result was achieved under challenging circumstances after defender Sam Heathcote was sent off with a second yellow card just before the half-time break. The team was forced to play with ten men for the remainder of the game, including when they fell 1-0 behind following a 66th-minute goal from Tom Handley.
Despite being a player down, the visitors mounted a late comeback. Josh Kay equalised for Macclesfield FC just three minutes after the opening goal, before James Edmondson scored the winner to seal the three points. A total of 1,284 spectators attended the match, which saw Rollin Menayese named man of the match.
This success follows a strong run of form for the club, which saw manager John Rooney named the Enterprise National League North Manager of the Month for March 2026. This is the second time this season that Rooney, the younger brother of former England forward Wayne Rooney, has received the award. The team’s performance throughout March, which included six wins and two defeats, has kept them in contention for a top-three finish this season.
Macclesfield FC continues to build on its history as a phoenix club. Formed in October 2020 following the liquidation of the previous Macclesfield Town, the team has progressed through the non-league pyramid and made headlines in January 2026 by becoming the first sixth-tier side to defeat a Premier League team in the FA Cup.
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