Former winners Wigan survive FA Cup scare against Hemel Hempstead

National League South side Hemel Hempstead pushed League One Wigan all the way to a penalty shoot-out before bowing out of the FA Cup at the first-round stage following a 1-1 draw after extra time.

Joe White cancelled out Callum Wright’s opener for the 2013 winners, who had Matt Smith sent off, before Paul Mullin missed a penalty for the Latics.

But Wigan prevailed 5-3 on penalties after goalkeeper Sam Tickle saved Adi Azeez’s effort.

After a pretty uneventful opening quarter, Wigan took the lead after 25 minutes when Wright tapped home Mullin’s cross at the far post.

Wigan almost made it 2-0 when Fraser Murray’s volley from Joseph Hungbo’s cross was saved by Michael Johnson at point-blank range.

The home side were given a scare when Kyle Ajayi volleyed against the bar from close range at the start of the second half.

But the goal that had been coming duly arrived on the 61-minute mark.

Wigan substitute Smith – who had only been on the field for a couple of minutes – brought down Millar Matthews-Lewis in the box and was given a straight red card and White sent Tickle the wrong way from 12 yards.

As Hemel pushed for a winning goal, Wigan were awarded a spot-kick of their own when substitute Callum McManaman was tripped by Devante Stanley as he shaped to shoot.

However, Mullin’s powerful penalty clipped the bar on its way over the top.

Hemel twice came close to nicking it in the final minute of added time, Olatunbosun Adenola’s 35-yard shot being clawed out of the top corner by Tickle.

Seconds later, Matthews-Lewis hit the bar from point-blank range before Isiah Noel-Williams’ follow-up from three yards was somehow hacked off the line by Will Aimson.

With no further goals in extra time, Wigan were perfect in their five penalties from McManaman, Jason Kerr, Aimson, Christian Saydee and Morgan Fox.

Although Jevani Brown, Jake Gray and Noel-Williams scored for Hemel, Azeez saw the visitors’ second kick crucially saved by Tickle.