Steve Foster headed the winner as Crewe booked a spot in the fourth round of the FA Cup - and earned sweet revenge over Wednesday.

The Alex were beaten 1-0 in the league on Saturday when the two relegation sides played out a dull encounter.

But the cup brought out the best in both sides as they created chance after chance in an enthralling clash.

It was Foster that sealed the tie with a back post header after outjumping his marker to reach Kenny Lunt's 69th minute corner.

The Alex moved in front after just 12 minutes when 18-year-old debutant Ben Rix collected a cute Rodney Jack pass in the box. He eluded his marker and took a touch before firing low past the unprotected Kevin Pressman.

Wednesday should have been ahead by then with Gerard Sibon, who scored the winner when the two teams met on Saturday, guilty of missing the target after shrugging off Efe Sodje's poor challenge.

Marlon Broomes was then denied by a one-handed save from Ade Bankole after a weak clearance dropped at his feet in the box.

But the keeper was beaten in the 17th minute as Sibon showed great vision to pick out Matt Hamshaw's run. The midfielder got behind the Alex defence and flicked the ball over Bankole for the leveller.

But there were chances at the other end and Pressman was needed to deny Rodney Jack with his feet after the striker raced in on goal.

Pressman was at his best again in the second half to tip away a fierce David Wright drive from distance.

The keeper was lucky to escape when he was at fault for a mix-up in the heart of the Owls defence by failing to collect a long ball.

Hulse nipped in and looped a header over the stranded Pressman and Leigh Bromby was alert enough to dash back and hook the ball off his line.

After Foster headed the home side in front, Terry Yorath sent on Pablo Bonvin to add more firepower to his attack.

And the striker played his part in a sweeping move that ended with Paul McClaren hammering a drive against the post.

But it was Efan Ekoku's glaring miss in the last minute that will haunt Wednesday with the striker firing over the bar from six yards.

Teams:

Crewe: Bankole, Wright, Foster, Sodje, Smith, Sorvel, Brammer (Thomas 77), Lunt, Rix (Ashton 83), Hulse, Jack.

Subs Not Used: Tomlinson, Little, Walker.

Booked: Sodje.

Goals: Rix 12, Foster 68.

Sheff Wed: Pressman, Geary (Crane 90), Westwood, Bromby, Broomes, Hamshaw, McLaren, Haslam, Quinn (Bonvin 73), Ekoku, Sibon.

Subs Not Used: Stringer, O'Donnell, Maddix.

Booked: Westwood, Geary.

Goals: Hamshaw 23.

Att: 6,271

Ref: G Laws (Whitley Bay).