Anstey Nomads vs Macclesfield - FA Cup

There is a notable edge to this FA Cup fixture. When Anstey Nomads meet Macclesfield at the home ground on October 20, 2026, both will sense an opportunity to land a telling blow. Manchester City face the K-League All-Stars in Seoul as part of their pre-season tour of Asia.

There is little to choose between Anstey Nomads and Macclesfield on paper, and the FA Cup encounter should reflect that balance. The hosts will be looking to find their rhythm and put a run of results together. The visitors will travel in the hope that a change of scene can spark a turnaround, whatever the form book says. Paulo Fonseca's men are still smarting from their Champions League play-off exit but now sit third in the table.

Set-piece efficiency could prove the difference on the night. Both Anstey Nomads and Macclesfield have invested time in dead-ball situations this season, and a single corner or free-kick may settle it. Tuesday's print edition of ABC, as relayed by Sport Witness, have claimed that Betis turned down a €50m approach from a wealthy non-Premier League club for Antony.

The fixture is likely to be shaped by its key performers, with creative midfielders and clinical finishers on both sides capable of turning the game in an instant. Set-piece specialists and aerial threats on both sides mean dead-ball situations could carry outsized importance. His future profile for sure will be not a number nine striker alone.

Without the market to lean on, the contest feels genuinely open — and the outcome may come down to which side handles the occasion better. A share of the spoils looks the most probable outcome, with neither side holding a decisive edge — a 1-1 draw feels like a fitting result. Whatever the outcome, the FA Cup fixture promises a meaningful contest with real implications for both clubs. Fulham's Antonee Robinson could be one of those, who would likely be a cheaper alternative to Hall, who has just enjoyed a breakout season with the Magpies.