Hammers through after cup scare

Bowyer: Headed the equaliser

The visitors, who only collapsed when Izak Reid was sent off, had been leading through Gareth Evans five minutes into the second-round tie and the boos for Curbishley had started long before Lee Bowyer headed an equaliser to force extra-time.

Carlton Cole also scored with his head and Hines and then Reid netted, but the result will do little to change the appearance of the Hammers being in crisis, sparked by conflicting sounds from Curbishley surrounding Anton Ferdinand's departure to Sunderland this week.

Curbishley's squad are reported to be at an all-time low in terms of morale - and the disillusionment appeared to be spreading to the fans, with the Boleyn Ground less than a third full.

The home supporters among the 10,055 present jeered the hosts as they struggled against a side that had not earned a point this season.

The Silkmen had not even scored a goal in League Two and would be bottom of the Football League but Chester have a worse goal difference and three teams have had points deducted.

But status meant nothing on the evening and Keith Alexander's men got the scent of an upset within five minutes when they took the lead.

Francis Green had already given them a warning with a long-range effort which fizzed over the bar, then they grabbed the opener when George McCartney tried to head back to goalkeeper Robert Green but got his angles wrong and conceded a corner.

Ahmed Deen swung over the set-piece and Evans stooped at the near post to head into the roof of the net, despite McCartney's efforts on the line.

It got worse for Curbishley when he was forced into a 27th-minute change following a head injury to Valon Behrami, who had clashed with Lee Bell. Hines was brought on for his Hammers debut.

The boos started as the Silkmen continued to threaten. Reid was the next to go close when he dragged his shot wide after being tapped through by team-mate Green.

Luis Boa Morte did have sight of goal before the break but his effort lacked power and Jon Brian was down to save. The Hammers winger then showed his frustration when he hacked down Reid when the Macclesfield full-back got away down the right.

Ashton found a yard of room before the break and curled an effort against the crossbar - but despite going close there were shouts of abuse from the stands as the hosts went into the dressing room.

Curbishley sent his men out early after presumably giving them a half-time dressing down.

The visitors continued to attack and it took a clearance from Hayden Mullins to prevent a Danny Thomas cross from causing danger.

At the other end, Brian was barely tested when West Ham youngster Reid, who was on as a substitute, fired a free-kick straight at him. Brian did not have to move either when Ashton connected with an overhead kick.

Reid was one of the final throws of the dice by Curbishley, with Carlton Cole also coming on for Sears. "Alan, sort it out," was the cry from the stands.

"You'll be sacked in the morning," was another prediction of some Hammers fans just before Bowyer grabbed the equaliser 15 minutes from full-time.

Macclesfield had thought the ball was out of play but Julien Faubert got his cross in from the right and Bowyer headed in at Brian's near post.

Just before the 90 minutes were up, Macclesfield's Reid was dismissed for his second bookable offence.

Cole's strike came in the 10th minute of extra-time, with Ashton nodding back across goal and the substitute heading in.

Hines then tapped in at the far post after Ashton had flashed across goal. Reid cut in and fired a fourth from outside the box before the end.