By almost every metric it will go down as the biggest and most seismic FA Cup giantkilling in the competition’s history, with 117 places in the English football pyramid separating Crystal Palace and Macclesfield. Somehow, the star-studded Premier League team who compete in Europe were overwhelmed and deservedly beaten by their sixth-tier hosts, becoming the first cup holders to lose to non-league opposition since 1909.

The fact Palace included three of their cup winning side, in Adam Wharton, Chris Richards and captain Marc Guéhi – who all struggled – just emphasised the scale of the upset. Even Oliver Glasner admitted it was a “David against Goliath story”.

Yet this was all about Macclesfield, who were inspired by their manager John Rooney, brother of former Manchester United striker Wayne, and playing for the memory of their teammate Ethan McLeod, who died in a car accident last month. On the pitch, they were spearheaded by Paul Dawson, their brilliant captain, whose powerful header set the upset in motion before half-time before Isaac Buckley-Ricketts added a scrappy second on the hour mark.

Yeremy Pino’s late free-kick was Palace’s only moment of quality and ensured nerves set in for the sell-out crowd of 5,348, but Macclesfield were not to be denied. Ecstatic scenes followed. The pitch invasion that came after the full-time whistle, those bear-hugs between players and fans who began partying into the night; none of it will be forgotten in a hurry in this corner of Cheshire.

“It still doesn’t feel real,” said a beaming Rooney . “I spoke before the game about having a bit of hope in the FA Cup, but did I really believe it? Probably not. It’s mad to say but I thought we were deserved winners on the day. I thought we were incredible.

“I’m really proud on a personal note but also proud of the players. What they’ve created here is something unbelievable. It’s one of them where you don’t really believe it’s happened.”

Macclesfield’s squad is full of part-timers who hold down jobs away from football in teaching, law and property, yet here they were dominating Premier League opponents. Throughout the contest they looked more than a match for their illustrious visitors, with Dawson resembling Terry Butcher after his head was strapped after an early collision.

As Palace backed off, seemingly irked by Macclesfield’s intensity and physicality, it was clear the Silkmen sensed their moment could be close. Dawson’s goal was comic strip stuff, a perfectly timed header after he latched on to Luke Duffy’s free-kick, and it was hardly against the run of play.

If ever a player was deserving of a goal it was the captain, who roared off to celebrate with the home fans. The noise was as loud as anything this ground has heard since Macclesfield’s rebirth in 2020, their first taste of the third round in their current iteration.

Glasner had to react at half-time and he duly did, sending on the cavalry as Brennan Johnson, Will Hughes and Tyrick Mitchell were introduced and the visitors’ formation changed. It was more of the same as the second half started in a frenzy. Suddenly Palace found themselves 2-0 down after Buckley-Ricketts steered home. Their defence, led by Guéhi, looked listless and confused dealing with second-half balls sent up into the low sun.

“To explain that performance, or try to find some excuse, would be completely wrong,” said Glasner.

Rooney said he had told his team at half-time to try to run the clock down and frustrate Palace, but he was able to watch on with the luxury of a two-goal lead for much of the second half. Only Pino’s free-kick set his heart racing, but he was soon able to embrace Francis Jeffers, his assistant, as the whistle went.

In the chaos of the celebrations, Rooney then enjoyed a “really special” moment with his brother Wayne, who was working as a BBC pundit covering the game.

What next for the conquerors of the cup holders? “We’d love a big away trip but you cannot beat playing here in front of these fans,” said Rooney. “I’m so proud to give these fans that moment today.”