Gary Simpson's fears that their second bite of the cherry would be a bitter one came to fruition as Macc exited the FA Cup at Bolton.
There was to be no glory for Macc, no famous upset, just a cold, hard slog against a Bolton team determined not to slip up a second time.
Simpson had feared that once David Wheater salvaged a draw for Bolton, they would be all-out to earn a home tie against Swansea in round four, and give themselves a timely boost with league meetings against Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea looming on the horizon.
A legend from the Sammy McIlroy era, Gil Prescott, had a watching brief on behalf of SPL side Rangers – but had Prescott been tasked with scouting out Wheater’s abilities at right-back he was to be disappointed.
Decimated by injuries, Macc were woefully short on strike options after George Donnelly failed to recover from his groin strain, meaning youngster Elliott Hewitt, a right-back by trade, lined up alongside Colin Daniel in Simpson’s front line.
And the evening couldn’t have got off to a worse start for Macc, a mistake by Jonny Bateson allowing Ivan Klasnic to pick his pass for strike partner Kevin Davies, who made the half-yard he needed to beat Nat Brown to the Croat’s ball and slot in.
The early blow was the last thing the Silkmen could afford, and they retreated into their collective shell. Their pass accuracy wasn’t up to scratch and with Daniel getting short shrift from Dedryck Boyata and Wheater, there was precious little for Adam Bogdan to do in the first half.
In fact, Bolton doubled their lead through Martin Petrov, who barely broke stride when Tuncay slid him in, with two touches all he needed to do was pick a spot and fizz home a drive that had the beating of Jose Veiga at his near post.
Matty Hamshaw curled a shot safely beyond Bogdan’s cross bar but that was as close as Macc were to come in the first half. Macc had given themselves a mountain to climb and, even though there were a couple of thousand voices roaring them on, there was to be no fairytale win at the Reebok.
There were flashes, most notably a Carl Tremarco effort that warmed Bogdan’s hands, and Waide Fairhurst fluffing his lines when the left-back picked him out in the box. Fairhurst is in desperate need of some football and completely mistimed his attempted flick.
Bolton weren’t required to move through the gears though, they’d settled the tie by the break.
It could have been more emphatic as substitutes Paul Robinson and David Ngog combined for the former to try his luck, blasting well wide after receiving the ball back from Ngog.
But despite all Macc’s endeavours, they can hold their heads high. It would have been a different story if Brisley could have converted his chance to rise and nod in Hamshaw's free kick, or if Daniel could have directed in his close-range opportunity.
Makeshift midfielder Elliott Hewitt looked like he’d found the bottom corner when Kevin Davies’ clearing header came to him, but Davies made sure he got in the way of Hewitt's goalbound volley.
Five minutes from time, Bateson almost atoned for his first-minute calamity, providing a great cross for Daniel, but when he sent his header wide, it signalled that the game was up for Macc, with Fairhurst's wayward drive from 25 yards their last flourish.
But Macc can certainly be proud of their efforts against their more illustrious neighbours from the Premier League.
