Macclesfield's brave FA Cup adventure came to an end as Sheffield Wednesday booked a fourth-round tie away to Rochdale.

As in their first tie against Wednesday, Macc fought back in the second half to draw level against the Championship outfit in Tuesday night's third-round replay.

But the hosts struck three times in the last 15 minutes to finally kill off the Silkmen's challenge and ensure another mouth-watering Roses clash for Dale after they knocked Leeds out in the last round.

Around 3,000 Macc fans had travelled to Hillsborough but they watched John Askey's men get off to a nightmare start as Chris Maguire picked up a ball on Wednesday's left flank. Evading two challenges, he made the space to let fly and his low shot skidded beyond Silkmen keeper Rhys Taylor and inside the near post.

The third-minute goal dealt a massive blow to Macc's confidence, and they had to withstand long periods of pressure throughout the half.

Maguire, Jeremy Helan and Kieran Lee were Macc's main tormentors during the opening period and Taylor was grateful to see a cross he got underneath fly past his post with Atdhe Nuhiu having checked his run.

The movement of the hosts – buoyed by a 6-0 derby win over Leeds at the weekend – was causing havoc and although Macc’s resistance was stretched time and again, they managed to stand firm.

Save for the occasional nervy moment, Macc held out well and though right winger Jack Mackreth faced two defenders each time he got on the ball, once he'd had some early joy he had the Silkmen's first real opening, sending a left-foot effort straight into the arms of Owls keeper Damian Martinez.

Danny Whitaker sent Macc's only other real chance wide of Martinez's post. His shot from range bounced awkwardly in front of the keeper and was agonisingly close to an equaliser.

But the leveller did come in the 64th minute, from the penalty spot. Nigel Miller's decision incensed the home players and fans, but Scott Boden kept his cool to send Martinez the wrong way.

That goal sparked Macc's best period of the game and they had a glorious chance to edge ahead when Scott Kay leapt on a loose ball after Martinez parried a shot, but he thudded against the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.

And moments later Wednesday regained the lead. Substitute Jermaine Johnson slipped an inch-perfect ball into Jacques Maghoma's path and he produced a brilliant finish into the bottom corner.

Johnson scored himself five minutes from the end with another delightful finish from 20 yards before Andy Halls headed into his own goal to make it a flattering scoreline for Wednesday.