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A DRAMATIC injury
time leveller denied Wigan Athletic a deserved outright place in the
FA Cup third round draw aftewr a pulsating clash at Adams Park.
Two goals from record signing Simon Haworth had seemingly put Latics
in the hat with the big boys until the home side managed one last
fling in the dying seconds to earn a somewhat fortunate replay at
the JJB Stadium a week tomorrow.
And while John Benson's unbeaten charges will be confident of going
through, they will surely be kicking themselves at not finishing off
their opponents at the first attempt in a clash they hardly ever looked
like losing and almost always looked like winning.
Despite going a goal behind, Latics always had the extra class and
poise against a side which relied solely on the pace of winger Jermaine
McSporran and the bustle of striker Sean Devine.
Those two combined to give the home side the lead after 19 minutes
of a clash which, up to then, had been almost totally dominated by
Latics.
In their first ten minutes they could and should have been four goals
to the good as defender Gareth Griffiths, in for the injured Arjan
de Zeeuw, Stuart Barlow (twice) and Haworth all went close to giving
Latics a thoroughly deserved lead.
But after 19 minutes McSporran found space on the right and sent in
a low cross where DEVINE, looking a good three yards offside, slotted
a ball past the stranded Stillie.
Three minutes later Barlow saw a fierce drive tipped around the post
and then unleashed a superb angled drive which struck the underside
of thethe bar before bouncing to safety as Latics promised, rather
than threatened to get back on level terms.
They suffered a blow five minutes before the break when skipper Carl
Bradshaw limped off with a calf strain, to be replaced by Kevin Sharp,
but right on half time they got the goal they deserved when SIMON
HAWORTH scored from eight yards after a cross from Martinez had only
been partially cleared.
The goal gave Latics added impetus and five minutes into the second
half a superb, flowing moves, involving Barlow, Sharp and Martinez
ended with Scott Green firing high from just outside the box.
Mike O'Neill was then the victim of a highly dubious offside decision
when a brilliant ball from Haworth sent him racing clear, Martinez
then rattled the upright with a fierce drive before Latics claimed
a deserved second goal on the hour.
Again it was that man Haworth who, despite not seeming fully match
fit after his injury enforced lay-off, showed once again that he can
certainly do the business when it comes to sticking the ball in the
net.
The home defence was split wide apart and Kilford made them pay with
an inch-perfect cross that HAWORTH turned beautifully past Martin
Taylor.
That should have been it but Latics could not add the crucial, third
goal that would have killed off their bemused opponents and, inch
by inch Wycombe eased their way back into a contest that should have
been way beyond them.
A misplaced header from Scott Green let in Devine, but the finish
was weak, and then the excellent Pat McGibbon produced a last ditch
tackle to deny McSporran.
Latics then began to give the ball away far too often and far too
easily, illustrating once again why manager John Benson is on the
lookout fora midfielder to slow the pace down as and when needed.
Darren Sheridan replaced Martinez in the hope of doing just that,
and the former Barnsley man should have helped sew things up with
just three minutes left.
With Wycombe pushing forward in the hope of salvaging something from
the game, Latics broke through Sheridan.
He had both Haworth and Barlow either side and was confronted by a
lone home defender. A pass to either would have left them with a clear
run on goal but his attempt went straight to a grateful Alan Beeton.
It would prove costly as, with the seconds ticking away, the home
side drew level>
Derek Stillie produced a fine save from Simpson's long range free
kick but somehow Latics contrived to give the ball away yet again
- if they could iron out this flaww they really would be one heck
of a side - and, after Simpson's close range shot had come back off
the post, KEITH RYAN rammed the ball home from close range.
So it's back to the JJB Stadium for the replay, but the look on the
faces of Latics players at the end of this match told the whole story.
This was definitely one that got away.
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WYCOMBE WANDERERS:
Taylor 7, Lawrence 6 (Emblen
82), Bates 7, Rogers 7 (Cousins 90), Beeton 8, Carroll 7, Ryan 8,
Simpson 7, Brown 7, Devine 7, McSporran 8
Subs
not used: Vinnicombe, Bulman, Osborn
Scorers;
Devine 20, Ryan 90
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WIGAN ATHLETIC:
Stillie 8, Bradshaw 6 (Sharp 40, 7), Green 8, McGibbon 8, Balmer
7, Griffiths 7, Haworth 8, O'Neill 7, Barlow 8, Kilford 8, Martinez
7 (Sheridan 67, 7)
Subs
not used: McLaughlan, Bowen, Morris
Scorers:
Haworth 45, 61
Booking:
Green
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And
how Wycombe saw it...
WYCOMBE v
Wigan Athletic
Saturday
20th November FA Cup Second Round
Wycombe
grabbed a replay against Division Two leaders Wigan Athletic on Saturday
after Keith Ryan picked up the pieces from a 90th minute Sean Devine
effort. It was no less than Wycombe deserved after Devine had put
Wycombe ahead in the 20th minute. After surviving an opening five
minute spell of Wigan pressure, Wycombe went on to dominate the first
half and it was only a lucky deflected shot from Simon Haworth that
put The Latics level on the stroke of half-time. The visitors showed
their class in the second-half, however, and after Roberto Martinez
had struck the post, Haworth was there again to crash the ball home
on 61 minutes. Wycombe threw caution to the wind in the closing stages
and the gamble paid off when McSporran sprinted down the right and
when Devine's shot cannoned off the upright, Ryan swept the ball home
to spark the celebrations at The Valley End.
The
replay is due to take place at The JJB Stadium on Tuesday 30th November
- kick-off 7.45pm.
Final
Score Wycombe 2 Wigan 2
Wycombe
Team: Taylor, Lawrence (sub 82 Emblen), Bates, Rogers (sub 92 Cousins),
Beeton, Carroll, Ryan, Simpson, Brown, Devine, McSporran subs not
used Osborn, Vinnicombe, Bulman
Att:
2,992
Taken
from The
Chair Boys website
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