Macc Town 1 Wrexham 1
Connor Jennings denied his former club Macclesfield a place in the first round of the FA Cup – for the time being, anyway.
Jennings, who manager John Askey had hoped to bring back after last year's prolific loan spell, cancelled out Waide Fairhurst's first-half strike with a leveller that ensures the two sides will meet again on Tuesday.
John Askey was forced to field a makeshift central defence, with George Pilkington and Will Haining ruled out through injury and Luke Waterfall ineligible. He handed a first start to Stoke loanee Alex Grant and paired him with Andy Halls, making the switch from right-back.
Waide Fairhurst fired Macc ahead on 28 minutes, benefiting from a handy deflection that wrong-footed Wrexham keeper Andy Coughlin.
Paul Turnbull had sent Chris Holroyd flying down the right flank and when he picked out Fairhurst in the middle, he twisted his way to a shooting chance. When he let fly a cruel bounce off Manny Smith saw the ball hit the net for the striker’s fifth of the season.
But although David Gonzalez saw his shot beaten away by Coughlin despite an awkward bounce Macc were hanging on at the break.
Elliott Durrell was blocked at close range after Wes York had passed up a chance and Andy Bishop's goal was chalked off by an offside flag when he pounced on a rebound from Jennings' shot that rebounded off the post.
In the second half Macc looked to have weathered the storm but with 25 minutes left on the clock Jennings was allowed to much time on the ball. He picked his spot and drilled the ball beyond Rhys Taylor and into the corner of the goal.
Either side could have snatched it in a frantic finish but they'll need a replay on Tuesday.
The prime solace for Askey is that a late yellow card for Jennings rules him out of that game through suspension.
