Sam Tickle’s extra-time heroics helped Wigan to a 2-0 win over 10-man Carlisle in the FA Cup first round.
The Cumbrians started well but they suffered a blow when Ethan Robson was sent off after 14 minutes.
Wigan had plenty of chances to break the deadlock in the second half but Carlisle held firm and the tie went to extra-time, however goals from Scott Smith and Jonny Smith spared the visitors’ blushes.
After a positive start from Mike Williamson’s men, they went down to 10 men after Robson was shown a straight red for a heavy challenge on Steven Sessegnon.
Despite the red card, the hosts had plenty of chances, with Tickle called into action as he clawed an Aaron Hayden header off the line.
After the break, the visitors, sparked by a flurry of changes, dominated the game and Jonny Smith almost created a goal as his brilliant cross found the head of Thelo Aasgaard but the midfielder failed to hit the target.
The excellent Gabe Breeze defied Wigan in the closing stages of the initial 90 minutes and the tie went to extra time.
The Latics got the vital breakthrough in the 105th minute when Scott Smith steered a Silko Thomas cross into the Carlisle net.
The Cumbrians had chances to equalise as Dominic Sadi’s shot was saved excellently by Tickle, while the England Under-21s man also kept out a goal-bound Luke Armstrong header.
Jonny Smith wrapped up the win for the Latics in the 121st minute as he rolled the ball into an empty net after all 10 men of Carlisle went up for a corner.
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