THOUSANDS of fans roared the Macclesfield into the next round of the FA Cup to set up a plumb tie with Sheffield Wednesday.

Almost 2,500 turned out to see Macclesfield Town beat Brackley Town at Moss Rose in the second round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

The 3-2 win brought with it £27,000 in prize money and the draw of a lucrative third round march against Championship team Wednesday.

That tie, which gifts the winner £67,500, will take place at Moss Rose on Saturday, January 4.

Macclesfield Town are desperate to raise £300,000 to give the club a fighting chance to be around in its 140th year in 2014.

Macclesfield are the lowest ranked team still in the competition, so bosses at the club will be hoping the fixture will be televised generating much needed cash.

Every penny is need to rouse the club from a financial nightmare that puts its very future in doubt.

With that in mind, the Macclesfield Express set out an SOS calling on the community to ‘Support Our Silkmen’ and go to the game.

On Saturday the fans responded with 2,438 turning out to cheer the boys on.

Defender Carl Martin said the support helped.

The 27-year-old said: "The support was fantastic, their fans gave it a

right go but our fans were just as good and they matched them. I couldn’t hear myself think at times.

“It was a great effort from the fans. Hopefully that continues because they helped us get through."

A game against Sheffield Wednesday is the realisation of a 35 year dream for Macclesfield-born Alison Dallman.

The 59-year-old mum of two became an Owls fan when she met her husband John and the family now live in Sheffield. The family return to Macclesfield regularly to visit Alison's sister Angela Dooley.

Alison Dallman

Alison, a former teacher, said: "Macclesfield Town has always been my first love and I was a supporter until I met John. We are season tickets at Hillsborough now.

"Every FA Cup draw I have been praying for my two favourites to be pulled from the hat. It has taken 35 years to happen. It is going to be emotional, returning to Moss Rose.

"I'm a bit torn over who I want to win, so I suppose the perfect scenario is for a draw, so I get to see two games, and Macclesfield get to come to Hillsborough."