Clayton sends Silkmen out

Gradi: Watched his side progress in JPT

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Max Clayton headed Crewe to a 1-0 home win over Macclesfield, which sees them progress to the JPT area quarter-final.

Clayton, who was a target for Liverpool when still in the Alex's youth ranks, struck in the 75th minute to settle a hard-fought tie.

The teenager planted a diving header past goalkeeper Steve Collis from Byron Moore's cross to earn Crewe a place in Saturday's draw.

The hosts had created the better chances in a game which struggled to catch fire, although it was Macclesfield midfielder Sam Wedgbury who was first to trouble a goalkeeper, his powerful drive testing Steve Phillips.

Crewe were more dominant after the break and nearly took a 57th-minute lead. Nick Powell's perfectly weighted cross allowed Antoni Sarcevic to glance a header at goal, only for Collis to make a brilliant acrobatic save.

Collis was called into action again to deny Clayton's close-range header as Crewe continued to push forward, yet he could not stop the England Under-17s starlet from pushing the Alex into the next round.