The Silkmen's interest in the FA Youth Cup sponsored by E-ON ended on Tuesday evening at the hands of Bury Town. The hosts pulled off a shock on the night, progress to the 3rd Round to take on Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, thanks to penalty shoot out.

Early the game had finished one apiece after 90 minutes with Adam Roberts on hand to equalise for the Silkmen within sixty seconds of the home side taking the lead when Josh Curry reacted quickest after Josh Welsby had saved well from a free-kick.

With no further goals in extra time, the game went to penalties and Macc wasted two golden chances to progress to the next round. With Welsby having saved two of Bury's first five kicks, James Askey was fifth man up needing to score to win the game for the Silkmen. He missed the target but Welsby once again lifted spirits saving Bury's next kick. Michael Thomas however was to also miss his kick and in the end it was the home side who progressed when Scott Beckett failed to convert his attempt.

It made for a long journey home as John Askey explains.

"It was a tough night in more ways than one," said a disappointed John. "We were slow out of the blocks which I suppose was inevitable given the journey to get there. But for the last hour we bossed the game. We just couldn't put the ball into the back of the net."

"It was the same story into extra time and whilst it would have been nice to take them back to our place, the rules were such that it went straight to penalties. Even then I was confident we'd progress as Josh has saved a few this season. But unfortunately we didn't deal with the pressure as well as we should have, missing five of our eight kicks."

"The lads were understandably disappointed and upset, especially those who won't have another chance in the competition. And it was well into the early hours before we got home. So plenty of time to dwell on things. But we've still in  the Youth Alliance Cup and for the second years the small matter of earning a professional contract. You can't win every time you play and if they go onto enjoy a career in the game, they'll have to learn to deal with disappointments. It's how they respond that's important."

"That's the challenge I have set them and it will be interesting to see how they respond."