Macclesfield Town 0 Oxford United 0: Both sides hit the woodwork as Silkmen come agonisingly close to upset
Third round riches will be at stake again in replay at the Kassam Stadium
JOHN ASKEY'S terrific Town came within inches of sending another League One side crashing out of the FA Cup.
Winger Jack Mackreth was so close to putting the knife into Oxford with an 80th minute effort that hit the inside of the post and bounced to safety.
The Silkmen, who beat Walsall in the last round, should already be relishing the prospect of a vital money-spinning third round tie after creating a glut of chances.
But they could not convert any of them and United will be looking to see off their National League opponents - who did not look 45 places below them in the pyramid - in the replay.
John McCombe and seven-goal top scorer Chris Holroyd both went close with hooked efforts while Mackreth had also fired wide earlier.
And Paul Lewis twice sent shots whistling past the post when he should have been testing keeper Simon Eastwood.
Centre-back Chey Dunkley, lucky to escape a red after a high tackle of Lewis, also almost poked the ball into his own net after a mix-up with skipper Joe Skarz, but Eastwood saved.
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United striker Tyler Roberts had a chance to bag a vital goal - just like his fellow Wales under 19 prospect Ben Woodburn who netted Liverpool's League Cup winner against Leeds on Tuesday
Roberts, also 17 like the Reds new youngest scorer, has struck twice since his loan move from West Brom in a six-month deal.
The youngster saw a first-half effort deflected but should have done better on 70 minutes with a clear chance which keeper Craig Ross did well to save.
Dunkley did hit the post with a header and Marvin Johnson clipped the bar with a cross, but Michael Appleton will know his side could easy have made a shock exit.