Wigan survive scare against Hemel Hempstead after penalties
Wigan Athletic survived a real scare against National League South side Hemel Hempstead Town before progressing to the FA Cup second round on penalties.
The 2013 winners seemed to be coasting to victory against a side three divisions below their League One status as Callum Wright put them ahead in the first half at the Brick Community Stadium.
The game took a dramatic turn when Matt Smith was red-carded and from the resultant penalty Joe White equalised.
Wigan's Paul Mullin then missed a spot kick and when extra time could not separate the sides the league side scored all five in the shoot-out, with goalkeeper Sam Tickle saving Adi Azeez's effort to send the relieved Latics through.
After an uneventful opening quarter, Wigan took the lead as 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 but the home side were soon given a scare when Kyle Ajayi volleyed against the bar.
But an equaliser that had been coming duly arrived just after the hour 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 sent off, with White sending 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. 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.
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