Macclesfield Town, a team from the sixth tier of English football, stunned FA Cup title holders Crystal Palace with a 2-1 victory on Saturday, securing their place in the fourth round and etching their names in FA Cup history. The massive upset saw Macclesfield, playing five levels below their Premier League opponents, take an unexpected lead just before halftime.

Captain Paul Dawson headed home a precise cross from Luke Duffy in the 43rd minute, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. The shock intensified in the 60th minute when Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, a former Manchester City academy player, doubled Macclesfield's advantage. A scramble in the penalty area saw the ball fall to Buckley-Ricketts, who calmly slotted it past the Palace goalkeeper, sparking wild celebrations among the Macclesfield players and supporters.

The victory is being hailed as one of the greatest FA Cup shocks in recent memory, comparable to when Stevenage Borough, then a Conference Premier side, defeated Premier League side Newcastle United 3-1 in 2011. The FA Cup is known for its potential for giant-killing acts, but few predicted such a comprehensive performance from a team so far down the football pyramid.

Crystal Palace, despite their Premier League status, struggled to find their rhythm throughout the match. While they managed to pull a goal back late in the game, it proved to be a mere consolation as Macclesfield held on to secure a famous victory. Details of Palace's goal scorer were not immediately available.

Macclesfield Town now eagerly awaits the fourth-round draw, hoping for another favorable tie as they continue their remarkable FA Cup journey. The club and its supporters are basking in the glory of this historic win, a testament to the magic and unpredictability of the FA Cup. Crystal Palace, on the other hand, will be left to reflect on a humiliating defeat and a premature exit from the competition.