Altrincham 1 Macc Town 0

There was more derby disappointment at Altrincham for Macclesfield, who exited the FA Trophy with defeat to their bitter rivals.

Damian Reeves' second-minute goal earned the Robins a passage to round two but Macc will have to swallow the fact that their performance warranted nothing more than defeat, which was compounded by a controversial sending-off for playmaker Danny Whitaker.

John Askey made five changes to the starting team that won at Aldershot in midweek and unfortunately his fringe players did little to promote their bid for more game time.

Macc lost to an injury-time goal from James Lawrie when the teams met in September but they got off to a dreadful start to their return, allowing Reeves to charge through and score inside two minutes. He collected a pass from Simon Richman and took advantage of the gaping hole in Macc's backline, his finish giving Ritchie Branagan no chance.

Chances were few and far between in a dire first half from Macc and the closest they came to troubling David Parton in the Robins' goal was a free kick that flicked off a defender and wide.

But Altrincham failed to take full advantage, only turning around that Reeves goal to the good as neither side showed any great quality. Branagan made a routine save from first-half substitute Steven Gillespie but the hosts didn't make the most of a slapdash Macc showing.

The second half showed some improvement from the visitors, but not markedly so. And the few slender openings either side created had also gone begging.

And it got worse for Macc 17 minutes from time when a hugely dubious dismissal reduced them to 10 men. On as a second-half substitute, Whitaker brought down Richman on a charge to goal. There's no doubt it was a foul and a booking but despite the presence of defenders well placed to intercept, referee Simon Bennett brandished a red card and any hopes of a Macc comeback disappeared with Whitaker down the tunnel.

A minute later Tom Marshall almost doubled the lead with an overhead kick that crashed against the crossbar.

There was time for a late rally from the Silkmen but when Alex Grant found himself with time and space as Scott Barrow's cross reached him he headed woefully wide.