Report by SJG

FRIENDLY

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs EVERTON.

20^th August 1982

SHAMBOLIC LATICS SHOW WORRYING SIGNS AHEAD OF BIG KICK-OFF.

This was not the dress rehearsal that the Latics management and fans were hoping for. The Everton side were simply far too strong and handed out a footballing lesson. A crowd of 4.024 included a strong Everton contingent and the travelling toffees would have been well pleased with what they saw from their title contending side.

Latics struggled to mount any sort of serious threat to the Everton rearguard all night and could have fallen to an even heavier defeat but for some heroics by Roy Tunks. The rout started in the 26^th minute when Sharp nodded down for SHEEDY who fired his third goal in five games since joining the Toffees. Eleven minutes later and KING fired home number two, then as half time approached IRVINE struck a glorious volley to make it three.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-3 Everton.

Substitute Langley nearly scored an own goal at the start of the second half, when his back pass wrong-footed Tunks, but Cribley was on hand to clear the ball off the line.

The goals started to flow again on 61 minutes when Heath outpaced Methven and crossed for KING to grab his second.

Latics were in disarray and a deep cross by substitute Kevin Ratcliffe deceived Tunks which allowed Sheedy to fire at goal and Cribley was adjudged to have handled the shot. SHARP made no mistake from 18 yards.

The sixth goal was a superb effort and fittingly crowned the Everton display. HEATH collected the ball and struck a dipping volley from distance that gave Tunks no chance.

Latics grabbed a consolation in the final minute, but most of the Wigan fans had already left to head home or to the local hostelries when O’KEEFE fired home against his former club.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 1-6 Everton.

Scorers; O’Keefe (89); Sheedy (26), King (37), (61), Irvine (44), Sharp (74, pen), Heath (82);

Attendance: 4,024

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

EVERTON— (4-4-2) Southall; Borrows, Bailey, Higgins, Wright; Irvine, McMahon, King, Sheedy; Heath, Sharp; Subs; --- Arnold, Walsh (for Sheedy), Ratcliffe (for Wright), Richardson (for King), Johnson (for Sharp);

Referee; Mr. R. Guy (Merseyside).

The only good news for the Latics fans was that Lodge had now signed and while he did not make the friendly he was able to take part in a training match with Blackpool on the following Monday.

The game ended 0-0 and allowed both managers to try out new ideas and formations before the big kick-off.