A STIRRING fightback could not prevent FC United from crashing out of the FA Cup in the Gigg Lane replay.
The Rebels looked down and out at 4-1 down but hit back to almost force extra time.
Manager Karl Marginson received a blow when midfielder Chris Baguley was ruled out through suspension.
In came Dave Neville for his first start but FC were off to a stinker, going behind after just eight minutes when Dave Walker pounced on a loose ball.
FC fought back but Nantwich stood firm, marshalled by veteran ex-Macclesfield defender Darren Tinson.
Two minutes into the second half the Dabbers added a controversial second. The linesman flagged as Walker went through to score but the referee overruled him claiming the ball had reached the striker via defender Dave Chadwick.
Rattled FC went 3-0 down when Charlie O'Loughlin headed home, but on 56 minutes Simon Carden snapped up a goal for the Rebels.
All hope seemed crushed on 68 minutes when Phil Parkinson went down in the box and Walker completed his hat-trick from the spot.
But on 74 minutes sub Danny Self bundled in FC's second and Kyle Wilson set up a thrilling finale with his ninth goal of the season two minutes from time.
2 Danny Warrender
3 Simon Garner
4 Dave Neville
5 Dave Chadwick(captain)
6 Adam Turner
7 Adam Carden
8 Simon Carden
9 Kyle Wilson
10 Jerome Wright
11 Danny Williams
Subs Used
12 Carlos Roca(for 11, 46 mins)
14 Daniel Self(for 7, 69 mins)
18 Rob Nugent(for 3, 79 mins)
Attendance 1012
Scorers Carden 57, Self 73, Wilson 89 Walker 9, 47, 68 O'Loughlin