CUP'S HALF FULL

Weekend of thrills & spills showed competition at its best

- BY JOHN CROSS

THE FA Cup had its greatest shock and one of the best third-round weekends in recent history.

Macclesfield’ fairy tale win against Crystal Palace - the lowest-ranked team knocking out the holders - made them the first sixth-tier team to beat a topflight side in the competition.

There were so many great stories around that tie. The Silkmen dedicated it to their striker Ethan McLeod, who died after a car crash last month. Wayne Rooney's brother John is the manager.

The club’s owner Rob Smethurst buying the club on RightMove after a four-day bender in Ibiza. Honestly, if you cannot buy into Macclesfield and enjoy their heroics then you must have a heart of stone.

Weston-super-Mare, the semipro side from National League South, put up some fight after taking 600 fans to Grimsby only to go out 3-2.

Clubs get more generous away ticket allocations in the FA Cup.

Arsenal filled one end at Portsmouth.