Report by John Patrick Heeley

Nathan Ellington and Andy Liddell both grabbed goals as Wigan took all three points with a 2-1 win over Mansfield Town at a windswept Field Mill. Iyseden Christie pulled one back but Paul Jewell's men hung on for the victory and extend their lead at the top of the table to 12 points.

Wigan Athletic got back to winning ways at Mansfield with first half goals from Nathan Ellington and Andy Liddell securing all three points and putting behind the previous weekend's defeat.

Paul Jewell opted for the same starting line up for the 5th successive game with Neil Roberts returning from suspension to take a place on the bench in favour of Scott Green the only change to the squad.

The game wasn't the exactly best to watch as a spectator with the conditions preventing both sides from playing any sort of passing game as an almost gale force wind swept across the ground.

The home side battled well and look dangerous when going forward with Isyeden Christie and 6' 4" frontman Andy White both causing problems for the Wigan defence.

Wigan, playing against the fierce wind in the first half, created the first chance of the game with only a couple of minutes on the clock when Nathan Ellington saw his shot from a Tony Dinnning centre go narrowily the wrong side of the upright.

Mansfield also started brightly and showed their intentions with leading scorer Christie getting the better of the Wigan defence before sending the ball wide.

Ellington saw another opportunity go begging when his low shot was comfortably collected by keeper Kevin Pilkington, once on loan at Wigan.

A low ball across goal from Ellington just failed to find strike partner Liddell and then Ellington himself was denied by Pilkington when the former Manchester United keeper bravely saved at The Duke's feet as he bore down on goal.

White capitalised on a mistake by Peter Kennedy on 30 minutes but fortunately for Wigan John Filan read the situation well and raced off the line to narrow the angle and blocked the Mansfield striker's effort at the expense of a corner kick.

Filan was soon called upon again, this time to save from the impressive Christie from 15 yards out.

Jason De Vos headed narrowly over from a Teale corner a couple of minutes later as Wigan piled on the pressure although they were struggling with the wind.

Wigan took the lead after 38 minutes with NATHAN ELLINGTON grabbing his first goal in a month. Lee McCulloch set up The Duke who raced forward and waltzed round Pilkington before sidefooting into the back of the net for his 18th goal of the season.

The lead was doubled 4 minutes later and arrived in similar fashion. Ellington was again involved in the build up as he provided the ball for Gary Teale to charge forward and set up ANDY LIDDELL who ran on goal before side stepping the Mansfield keeper and sending the ball home.

No changes were made to either side during the interval and it didn't take long for Mansfield to reduce the deficit with a typical striker's goal.

With less than 5 minutes of the second half gone Big Andy White got the better of Jason De Vos on the right allowing him time and space to send a perfect ball for IYSEDEN CHRISTIE to run onto and despite Matt Jackson's best efforts the former Coventry City trainee netted his 18th goal of the campaign from six yards out, although Jackson will be the last to admit it but he appeared to get the final touch.

The goal seemed to stir Wigan as they carved out a number of decent chances over the next 10 minutes or so, the best falling to Ellington when he cracked the bottom of Pilkington's right post with McCulloch collecting the rebound but his first time effort from a tight angle landed in the side netting.

Andy Liddell saw a low drive go a matter of inches wide of the same post moments later and McCulloch was denied by Pilkington, who did well to save after the former Motherwell player had picked up a ball from Nicky Eaden at the far post.

Wigan were definitely having the better of the second half but just couldn't find the crutial goal that would give them back the two goal cushion and a bit of breathing space, but it wasn't for the lack of trying.

Ellington did well on the hour mark to get his head on the end of a right wing cross but his attempt from 8 yards out sailed across goal and wide of the upright.

The game had been a generally scrappy one, mainly due to the almost gale conditions that swept across the ground which made any attempt at a decent pass a difficult task indeed.

Credit to Mansfield and their new manager Keith Curle as they seem destined to retain their Division Two status if tonight's performance was anything to go by, despite looking certain for a quick return to the Third only a matter of weeks ago. They look a team confident in their abilities and I think that the former Manchester City and Wolves defender must take a great deal of praise for that.

The result however, a record 11th league victory on their travels which surpassed the figure set when manger Paul Jewell was turning out for Wigan as a player in the 1986/87 season, gave Latics a 12 point cushion at the top of the table and increasingly look certain to be playing First Division football next season but as Paul Jewell will probably be telling his men, you can't take anything for granted in this game.

It's looking good though from up here though!