The Silkmen bowed out of the League Cup at the first hurdle against Leicester City as they were edged out by the odd goal in seven.

And it was the Silkmen who had the first opening as Richard Butcher saw his placed shot from 20 yards well held by the home 'keeper. Jose Veiga at the other end was proving his ability to come off the line as he dived well at the feet of Steve Howard to gather the ball when he was one-on-one with the attacker.

The Silkmen then won a corner when the 'keeper collided with his own defender under pressure from Butcher. Matt Hamshaw - looking set to get a hatful of assists this season - took the kick and Nat Brown looped a header over the 'keeper and into the top corner, above the despairing leap of the man on the line.

The Silkmen did have to ride their luck early on and almost conceded when N'Guissan powered a header from a corner onto the post and then Fryatt hit a shot on the turn just wide.

But with just over half an hour of the game gone, the Silkmen were back on level terms as Jose did well to get to a curling shot from the edge of the area only for Neilson to be fist to the loose ball to chip over the 'keeper into the back of the net.

It could have been 2-1 to the home side a few minutes later, but Viega, again prowling his area, managed to make a stunning save from point blank range as he anticipated the downward header of Fryatt to dive low to his right and hold the ball.

It was in the first five minutes of the second half that the same was all-but lose for the Silkmen. With only a minute on the second half clock Fryatt turned his man to break into the box and shot to the far post to make it 2-1 to the home side.

And it was 3-1 a few minutes later. This time a ball through found Fryatt in acres of space and he fired his shot past the helpless Veiga.

The Silkmen then made two changes to the side as Emile Sinclair, who was carrying a knock into the game, was replacedby Vinny Mukendi and Paul Bolland came off for Lewis Chalmers.

Vinny almost made an instant impact as he found the space for a piledriver from the edge of the area which was palmed around the post by Logan in the Leicester goal, but the defence had to be on their guard as Fryatt then hit a shot just over the bar from the edge of the area.

But Mukendi had been on the pitch less than 10 minutes when he pulled a goal back for the Silkmen. He had done the hard work with a mazy run to lay the ball of to Brisley, belting on from right-back. Bris whipped in a cross which Vinny met with a downward header into the bottom corner to make it 3-2.

But the Championship opposition were never likely to lie down and were right back at the Silkmen, first Jose Veiga had to save well from N'Guessan before they reasserted their lead again. This time it was Wellens who took advantage of a low ball across the edge of the area to hit a shot that was still rising as it hit the roof of the net.

Matt Hamshaw was then replaced by Sam Wedgbury as the Silkmen continued to push to get back into the game and he was involved in the third goal of the night.

It was his cross that Tyrone Barnett hit goalwards only to see his shot saved. Logan in the Leicester goal was equal to the save but could only palm it wide into the path of Colin Daniel who sidefooted past the dive of the 'keeper to make it 4-3.

He was almost the provider again two minutes later as his probing cross looked set for the head of Tyrone Barnett, only to be punched away at the last second by Logan.

But time was running out and although the Silkmen continued to press - forcing their Championship hosts to start taking their time over goal-kicks - they couldn't force a fourth goal and were out, but certainly not down.