Wigan Athletic overcame their poor run of form to defeat National League leaders Boreham Wood with a 3-0 win on Saturday afternoon, to cruise into the second round of the FA Cup.

The 2013 winners survived a potential cup upset thanks to one goal from Jon Mellish and two from Morgan Fox, as the team claimed a comfortable win on the day at Meadow Park.

The home side are unbeaten in the league this season, and hadn't lost at home inside 90 minutes since a 2-1 defeat to Boston United back in January. Luke Garrard made one change to the side that had come from behind to beat Hartlepool last weekend, with Ben Whitfield replacing Danny Cashman, with leading scorer Matt Rush again on the bench. Latics boss Gary Caldwell, meanwhile, was forced into one change, with Christian Saydee replacing Scott Hogan, who picked up an injury in the midweek draw with Mansfield.

The Wigan boss also opted to start with Mellish, Fox and Fraser Murray in place of Reggie Walsh, Charlie Gray and K'Marni Miller who all dropped to the bench.

Despite being two divisions below their visitors, the home side were actually the favourites amongst some bookmakers. A nod, no doubt, to their excellent start to the season, coupled with Wigan's woes, with The Latics failing to pickup an away since April. It was the League One side that took the lead early, however, to silence the home crowd.

Jon Mellish slotting past Ted Curd after good work from Christian Saydee. The Wigan man turning his marker, before pulling the ball back to the penalty spot and the arriving Mellish. The goal silenced the Meadow Park North Bank, but didn't seem to shake the National League side. Despite being unbeaten this season, the Wood are no strangers to coming from behind, having overturned a 3-2 deficit late on in their 4-3 win over Hartlepool at the weekend, but Garrard did reach for the tactics board in an attempt to stifle the Wigan attack.

Both sides seemed happy to pass the ball around and use the full width of the pitch, but the home side were giving the ball away too often, and Wigan were making them pay. Fraser Murray intercepted an attempted forward ball by Tylor Golden, but after advancing forward and finding Jensen Weir, the Wigan midfielder opted not to shoot and the home side were able to scramble back and get away with just conceding a corner.

Wigan's finishing was letting them down as they continued to feed off Boreham Wood mistakes. Mellish was unable to direct a Connor Barrett cross goalwards, before Murray's shot was blocked by Chris Bush.

Happy to let the home side have the majority of the possession, the Wigan back three were able to comfortably maintain the Wood attacking threat, and were well organised despite their defensive frailties at times this season. The home side's best chance came when Tarryn Allarakhia cut his way inside from the left, but he could only blaze over Joe Whitworth's goal.

Finishing certainly wasn't an issue for Wigan's second goal on 35 minutes. Mellish was brought down 25 yards from goal, after yet another interception, and Morgan Fox struck a superb free-kick into the top corner, giving Curd no chance.

The second half started in the same vein, with both sides looking to attack, and Wigan felt they should have had a penalty just minutes in.

A move that started from a free kick won by Saydee, ended with Barrett skipping past Regan Booty, before going down in the area. The officials were unmoved however, by the Wigan appeals.

Garrard waited ten minutes after the break before bringing his leading scorer into the game. The National League's leading marksman, with ten goals in the league already this season, replaced Jay Bird who had struggled to get the better of James Carragher.

WIth just fifteen minutes left, Wigan wrapped the game up. A Max Power corner was met at the near post by Fox, who flicked his header into the far corner. The home side continued to look for a way through, Matt Rush having a half chance on 78 minutes, but Wigan comfortably saw the game out and made it safely into the hat for the second round.