Macc Town 2 Crewe Alexandra 1
Danny Rowe hit a winner to send the Silkmen through to a Cheshire Cup semi-final date with Stockport County.
Waide Fairhurst had given Macc the lead over the League One visitors and, after Brad Inman had got free to cancel out that goal Rowe got in behind the defence to hit a 73rd-minute goal.
Crewe – whose offside claims went unheeded for Rowe's goal - may feel hard done by in the loss, as they hit the frame of Ritchie Branagan's goal twice as well as forcing the keeper into a string of saves to keep them at bay.
It had all started so well for the hosts with captain Paul Turnbull almost scoring from a fourth-minute free kick, denied by Liam Matthews' save at the expense of a corner. And when his team mates failed to defend that adequately Fairhurst evaded the Alex attentions and tapped in at point-blank range.
Crewe did come into the cup clash more and Branagan had to be off his line smartly to clear the danger from Callum Saunders as well as pulling off a sharp near-post save from Inman's effort.
At the other end James Thorne had hit the side netting with his opening and Fairhurst was also off-target as he blew the chance to double his and his team's tally.
And just after the half-hour mark Inman struck, converting after good work from Saunders.
Inman repaid the compliment to Saunders moments later, providing the opening for him to go clear but Branagan got just enough on Saunders' finish to ensure the sides turned around level pegging.
Branagan pulled off a double save as the second half got going, with Billy Waters' initial shot being saved and the keeper ensuring Saunders couldn't capitalise on the loose ball.
A Waters cross was then headed onto the bar by Anthony Stewart as Crewe turned the screw, and Saunders was again denied in Branagan's defiant show, as he got down well to save the young forward's downward header.
And his efforts paid off 17 minutes from time when Rowe beat the offside trap, gathered a through ball and slotted the ball inside the near post.
There was still some defending to be done for Macc though, and Waters and Inman both saw goalbound tries stopped by Branagan. The keeper was beaten late in the day by Saunders, who latched onto substitute Charlie Kirk's pass but his finish struck the foot of the post and went out to safety.
Although Fairhurst hit his late pot-shot over Matthews' bar Macc had done enough to reach the penultimate round of the competition.
The victory set up a final-four clash at the Moss Rose when Stockport County are the vsitors. That match takes place on Tuesday, March 17, kick-off at 7.45pm. The winner will face Congleton Town or Northwich Victoria in the final
