AFC Fylde hold on to secure Emirates FA Cup second round replay with Wigan

Friday 01 Dec 2017
Danny Rowe levels for Fylde

Danny Rowe rescued a replay for plucky non-leaguers AFC Fylde, who held 2013 winners Wigan Athletic to a 1-1 Emirates FA Cup draw in front of the BBC cameras. 

Former Manchester United trainee Rowe slotted a second-half penalty to keep the National League side in the third round hat after Will Grigg gave the visitors an interval lead. 

In the second minute Gavin Massey came within a whisker for the League One leaders, fizzing narrowly wide after a link-up with Grigg.

AFC Fylde 1-1 Wigan Athletic
  • Emirates FA Cup
  • Second Round
  • Friday 1 December 2017
  • Mill Farm
  • By Tom Harle

The Northern Ireland international climbed above his man to loop a header onto the bar, Wigan looking every inch a side with one loss in ten. 

Lee Evans never looked like repeating his first-round screamer when he leant back horribly on a close-range drive. 

Just before the interval the Latics deservedly hit the front, Grigg glancing home Nathan Byrne's sublime cross from the right. 

After the break Jay Lynch made a smart save, diving to deny a Michael Jacobs curler and a low Evans shot. 

Flyde's first real chance came when Matt Blinkhorn, introduced as a sub moments earlier, nodded off target from a deep delivery. 

The hosts were handed a lifeline when captain fantastic Sam Finley was tripped in the box by Byrne's outstretched leg and a penalty awarded. 

Rowe looked the coolest man in the ground, sidefooting low into the bottom right.

Wigan tried to force the issue, Jacobs selling Jordan Richards a dummy but Byrne couldn’t turn it at the far post.

By FA Staff