FULL TIME: Macc Town 2 Wanderers 2
9:26pm Saturday 7th January 2012 in Matchday By Marc Iles
Wanderers breathed a sigh of relief after David Wheater's 77th minute header rescued a replay against League Two Macclesfield Town.
Sixty-two places separate the two teams in the league but in true cup tradition it didn't seem to matter at times as Gary Simpson's plucky Silkmen so nearly pulled off the giant-killing they were after.
Ivan Klasnic had sniffed out his eighth goal of the season early on to put the Whites ahead but they were soon pulled back as Colin Daniel produced a composed finish from George Donnelly's cross 16 minutes in.
Macc looked impressive in possession and Adam Bogdan was required to make a couple of good saves to keep his Premier League side in the game.
Wanderers had chances too – with Joe Riley's cross-shot bouncing off the bar and Jose Veiga smart off his line to block an effort from Nigel Reo-Coker.
Wheater may not have been on the pitch to score the equalising goal in the second half had referee Moss punished his pull back on Matt Hamshaw with a red, rather than a yellow.
But Coyle's side had their work cut out to stay in the game at times in the second half, and Riley was called upon to make some timely last-ditch challenges on Donnelly and Daniel.
David Ngog and Mark Davies were thrown on from the bench for the ineffectual Kevin Davies and Darren Pratley – but things were to get worse for the Whites before they got better.
Guinea-Bissau international Arnaud Mendy fired a brilliant volley from a half cleared corner to give Macc hope of a genuine shock.
Coyle's decision to throw on Davies in midfield soon paid dividends, however, and he started to open up gaps in the home side's defence.
Ivan Klasnic and Chris Eagles both had clear sights of goal before Davies was brought down 25 yards out, and Martin Petrov floated a free-kick on to Wheater's head for the equaliser.
It was the defender's first goal, almost 12 months since he signed at the Reebok from Middlesbrough, and seemed to inspire Wanderers for a grand finale.
Petrov smashed a free kick off the bar and Silkmen keeper Veiga pulled off a fine save late on when one-on-one with Klasnic.
In truth, it would have been more than Wanderers deserved. But they live to fight another day and take their place in Sunday's draw as ball number 22.
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