UNITED 1 (Beckford 54), WIGAN 2 (Koumas 44, 69)

United: Loach, Gardner,. Marques, Parker, Lewis, Douglas (Weston 76), Prutton (Bayly 76), Thompson (Howson 76), Westlake (Carole 76), Beckford, Kandol (Elliott 76). Subs: Cortizo (trialist g/k), Delph.

Wigan: Kirkland, Melchiot, Kilbane, Brown, Granquist, Bramble, Valenica, Landzaat, Heskey, Koumas, Agahowa. Subs: Scharner, Pollitt, Sibierski, Folan, Cotterill, Cywka, Montrose, Moore.

Att: 7469

Dennis Wise again started with a youthful side for the visit of Premiership Wigan, but it was United who created the first opening when Jermaine Beckford screwed a shot wide after a good ball forward.

It was a tentative opening from both sides, but Wigan had their first effort on 12 minutes when a Jason Koumas curler came back off the woodwork.

Denny Landzaat also tested United keeper Scott Loach with a shot from the edge of the box.

Wigan had another opportunity when Koumas was given space on the edge of the box, and an Antonio Valencia effort was deflected to safety. 

At the other end Dave Prutton and Tresor Kandol combined well to feed Beckford, but the striker was unable to turn and shoot.

Moments later, Wigan keeper Chris Kirkland had to be at full stretch to keep out a Beckford header after good work by Scott Gardner, Prutton, and Eddie Lewis.

United were looking lively and Titus Bramble picked up a yellow card after Kandol threatened to escape down the left.

Kandol and Beckford were again linking up well, and Beckford tested Kirkland again after another flick-on from his strike partner.

But it was the Premiership side who took the lead a minute before half-time. Emile Heskey broke well and Koumas converted with a well-placed shot beyond the grasp of Loach.

Koumas again threatened at the start of the second period, but it was United who came close to equalising just four minutes into the half.  Beckford did well to win a corner, and Rui Marques headed an Alan Thompson delivery inches over the top.

The leveller did come on 54 minutes, though, when Beckford finished off some more good build-up play by tucking the ball beyond Kirkland.

Wigan were almost in front again within a minute, but Gardner was on hand to clear off the line.

Both sides continued to attack - Koumas was a threat for Wigan while Beckford and Kandol continued to cause problems at the other end - and it was a lively affair.

United even had claims for a penalty waved away after Kandol took a tumble in the box and, moments later, Kirkland got down well to keep out a low free-kick from Thompson.

A free-kick at the other end proved decisive, though, and Koumas profited when his shot was deflected through the wall to wrong-foot Loach in the United goal.

With 14 minutes remaining Wise made wholesale changes - five subs were introduced - and from the first attack substitute Curtis Weston had a shot blocked and fellow sub Rob Bayly hooked a shot over the top.

Weston was again involved when he delivered a good far post cross, but Seb Carole was crowded out as he looked to win the header.

As the game entered the final minute United won a series of corners, and Bayly came within a whisker of grabbing a second equaliser when he arrived late at the far post.