Report by SJG

FRIENDLY

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs STOKE CITY.

17^th August 1982

WIGAN SLIDE TO DEFEAT IN THE RAIN.

The driving rain kept all but the most faithful of Latics fans away for this run out against Stoke City of the First division.

The Potteries side were well drilled and solid in defence and Latics struggled to create against their higher league opposition.

Wigan did manage to string together a number of promising passages of play, particularly early in the game, and it was Latics who fashioned the first real chance when Weston fed the ball through to O’Keefe, who was only thwarted by the speed of Fox who closed him down with alacrity.

The new tactic of playing two wingers again failed to impress and if Griffiths and O’Callaghan had shown more composure, then Stoke City would surely have taken the lead before the break.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 0-0 Stoke City.

Rogers was working hard in attack and would have done his hopes of a full-time contract no harm but he could not find a way past Fox in the Stoke goal.

As the game progressed Latics faded and Stoke took full advantage on 55 minutes when Griffiths suddenly made an attacking burst and from seemingly nothing he fired a bullet shot that left Tunks clawing at air.

Wigan tried to muster a late rally but they simply could not penetrate the visitor’s well drilled defence.

There were lots of positives for Lloyd to take from the game but the lasting worry for the manager would be the lack of goals.

With only one warm-up match to go the search for the winning formula before the opening game at Lincoln City was now becoming very urgent indeed.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 0-1 Stoke City.

Scorers; Griffiths (55);

Attendance: 1,059

Teams; WIGAN— (4-4-2) Tunks; Glenn, Weston, Methven, Cribley; Sheldon, Barrow, O’Keefe, Houghton; Rogers, Bradd; Sub; --- Butler (for Houghton);

STOKE CITY— (4-4-2) Fox; Bould, Hampton, Bracewell, McAughtrie, Berry; Heath, McIlroy, O’Callaghan, Griffiths, McGuire; Sub; --- Maskery (for Bracewell);

Referee; Mr. P. A. Tyldesley (Stockport).

The search for new blood saw Latics trying to sign midfielder Steve Galliers from Wimbledon but the clubs were struggling to agree a fee.

The other rumours around were linking Latics with a loan move for the promising Everton midfielder Paul Lodge.

Lloyd was hopeful of getting the paperwork sorted so that the youngster could make his debut in the friendly against Everton on Friday night.