NOTTS County came within 11 minutes of causing a stunning shock in the FA Cup against Premier League Wigan Athletic at Meadow Lane today.

They led 2-0 at the end of a superb first half display, capped by magnificent goals from Lee Hughes and Ben Davies.

But Jason Scotland and substitute Ben Watson both scored in the second half for the Latics, who drew decisively level on 83 minutes, to break the Magpies' hearts and force a fourth round replay.

Attacking the Kop, the Magpies were first to threaten after just five minutes when Craig Westcarr threaded a pass through the Latics' defence for Hughes.

Hughes raced onto it but flashed a shot just wide of the far post from inside the box.

Jamie Clapham started in a deep central midfield role in Notts' five-man midfield and was heavily involved as they kept possession confidently against their top-flight opponents in the opening stages.

Neal Bishop was forced off on ten minutes for treatment on a head injury, after a clash of heads with Wigan midfielder Mohamed Diame near the halfway line, reducing the Magpies to ten men until he returned two minutes later.

The visitors went forward with intent for the first time on 14 minutes. Hugo Rodallega and Scotland linked-up well just inside the box, but Notts' captain John Thompson was alert to the danger and made a timely interception.

The Magpies were well on top. Spurred on by the home fans, they put the Latics under intense pressure and, on 18 minutes, Westcarr very nearly sent Hughes racing through on goal for a second time with a great pass. But Antonio Amaya slid in and intercepted.

For all of Notts' pressure, Wigan almost went ahead on 24 minutes at the end of a quick counter-attack. The visitors seized onto a poor pass from Bishop and quickly broke into the Magpies' penalty area.

Rodallega tried to drive a low powerful effort across Schmeichel and inside the far post, but the young Dane got a touch on it and the ball hit the inside of the post. Schmeichel gathered the rebound.

The Magpies went 1-0 up on 26 minutes, through Hughes. Their leading scorer raced onto a pass from Davies and beat Vladimir Stojkovic from inside the box. It was a superb finish, and sent the home fans delirious with delight.

Taking the lead only gave Notts even more confidence, and they went close to making it 2-0 just after the half-hour mark when Bishop met Davies' free-kick inside the box, but he side-footed narrowly wide of the far post.

Johnnie Jackson was booked for a late tackle on James McCarthy on 39 minutes and only moments later Graeme Lee blocked a powerful effort from Scotland.

At the other end, Titus Bramble too was booked after dragging Hughes down as the striker once again tried to break into the box.

Davies made it 2-0 from the subsequent free-kick, curling the ball inside Stojkovic's right-hand post from 25 yards. Like Hughes' opener, it was a wonderful goal. The Serbian stopper simply had no chance of making a save.

McCarthy hit the outside of Schmeichel's near post in the last minute of the first half, showing the tie was still not over at the break.

Notts started the second half as they ended the first, confident and in command.

And they almost made it 3-0 on 49 minutes when Davies whipped a free-kick into the penalty area and Hughes prodded it towards goal. Stojkovic scrambled across his goal and, at full-stretch to his left, clawed it away.

Against the run of play, Wigan reduced their arrears on 52 minutes, through Scotland, who pounced on the ball inside the penalty area and side-footed it low past Schmeichel.

The Magpies' No.1 was tested minutes later by a low strike from Maynor Figueroa and then, on 58 minutes, Scotland shot narrowly wide of Schmeichel's right-hand post.

The Latics were looking increasingly dangerous and Scotland was central to their greater threat. On the hour mark, he forced a good save from Schmeichel at his near post after getting in behind the Notts' back-line.

The Magpies went close to restoring their two-goal lead on 66 minutes when Davies beat the offside trap down the right wing and squared the ball into the six yard box, but Stojkovic saved at the feet of Ricky Ravenhill.

Luke Rodgers was introduced for Ravenhill a minute later and was quickly in the thick of the action, forcing Stojkovic into a good save with his first touch.

Notts were appealing for a penalty when Davies went down in the box as he tried to seize onto the rebound, but referee Mark Clattenburg waved their protests away and Wigan cleared, uneasily.

Rodgers was soon involved again, forcing Stojkovic into two more good saves in quick succession. Emmerson Boyce then blazed over the bar on 79 minutes, before Schmeichel saved from substitute Charles N'Zogbia.

Wigan equalised on 83 minutes when Watson headed into the net from inside the six yard box after a corner had been headed back across the face of goal.

Both sides had chances in the closing stages, but a pulsating cup tie ended honours even after four minutes of added time. Notts deserved better.

NOTTS: Schmeichel, Thompson, Lee, Hunt, Clapham, Westcarr (Hawley, 84), Ravenhill (Rodgers, 67), Bishop, Jackson, Davies, Hughes.

Subs: Hoult, Edwards, Hamshaw, Fairclough, Akinbiyi.

WIGAN: Stojkovic, Boyce, Amaya (Gohouri, 46), Bramble, Figueroa, Sinclair (N'Zogbia, 70), McCarthy, Diame, Gomez (Watson, 70), Rodallega, Scotland.

Subs: Pollitt, Caldwell, Cywka, McManaman.

ATTENDANCE: 9,073 (1,327 away).