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WIGAN (home) 16/11/02 Hereford's FA Cup run came to an end for another season after second division leaders Wigan Athletic somewhat fortuitously won the game thanks to a last-minute goal from Scott Green. Just when everyone was looking forward to a replay at the JJB Stadium on Tuesday week, Green received a pass from Nathan Ellington and slotted the ball home. Hereford had been the better side for the majority of the game and were extremely unfortunate to lose a cracking cup tie. For the first time this season, United started with a 4-4-2 formation, with Ian Wright the defender missing out. Wigan included a few ex-Premiership players and two internationals, goalkeeper John Filan of Australia and Canadian captain Jason de Vos. Partnering de Vos at the back was Matt Jackson, who was part of the Everton team that shocked Manchester United in the 1995 Cup Final. Hereford started the match the brighter of the two sides, and thought they had gone ahead after only five minutes. A left-wing cross by the excellent Michael Rose was bundled in at the back post by Matt Clarke, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside. Rose produced some quality deliveries throughout the match, and almost scored when after fending off Nicky Eaden he saw his 25-yard effort brilliantly saved by Filan. Paul Parry was the next United player to try his luck when after leaving Green for dead and turning inside Eaden, he had a shot with his unfavoured right foot that beat Filan but came back off the post. Rose then had a free-kick that was on target, but straight at Filan who grasped the ball at the second attempt. Chukki Eribenne had a close-range header deflected away fora corner by Leighton Baines, and Jamie Pitman's header just looped wide. The visitors defended fairly well, but did not create much in attack despite looking threatening. Two million pound man Nathan Ellington was kept quiet by Tony James, who had another outstanding game. Andy Tretton had easily his best game for the club since joining from Shrewsbury, snuffing out the threat of Ellington and Roberts in attack. Matt Clarke made some good runs forward to support the attack, and Michael Rose's dead-ball kicks were a constant danger. The back four worked very hard to protect Matt Baker's goal, with Wigan's only worthwhile effort coming from Peter Kennedy within the first thirty seconds when his cross/shot flew across the face of goal. The second half began with Wigan starting to put together some more promising moves, and Hereford resorting to long-ball tactics. That said, Paul Parry was still a constant danger down the left-hand side and won many corners from his crosses. The delivery of the corners was not always great and many were headed clear. Wigan gradually started to carve out a few opportunities and put the hosts under pressure. From a corner, Ellington's header was blocked, with the follow-up being cleared off the line by James. At the other end, Mick Galloway blasted woefully over the bar when Filan could only palm the ball away from a corner straight to his feet. Wigan started to press forward and put Hereford under pressure. Tony James almost scored an own goal when he deflected a low cross just the other side of the post. Ellington had a shot from twenty yards that flew just inches over, before settling the game by turning provider for Green. It was very harsh on United, who had played some excellent football and would, I am sure, have gone on to win had their first-half 'opener' not been disallowed. Wigan can count themselves very fortunate not to have been held to a draw, which was the very least Hereford deserved for their efforts. Hereford: Baker, Clarke, Tretton, James, Rose, Pitman (sub Wright), Williams, Galloway, Guinan, Eribenne. Subs not used: Teesdale, Griffiths, Purdie, Smith.
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