Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

CARLISLE UNITED   vs   WIGAN ATHLETIC

15^th August 2023

A GAME OF TWO HALVES.

Carlisle United, like Northampton Town, had a highly successful campaign last season that culminated in promotion into League One.  So, a trip on a Tuesday night, to Cumbria was never likely to be an easy assignment for Maloney’s charges. The manager made two changes to the starting XI, with Adeeko coming in for Scott Smith, and McManaman replacing Humphrys.

Wigan started brightly, moved the ball quickly, and were clearly full of confidence and it was not long before their neat approach play was creating scoring opportunities.  After six minutes neat interplay saw Smith fizzing a low cross across the six-yard box but no-one was on hand to apply the final touch. Then, after twelve minutes, Lang produced a surging run that had the defence back pedalling but he chose to shoot early from 25 yards and his effort failed to hit the target. Minutes later and McManaman tried to produce a mirror image of his winner against Northampton, this time he cut inside onto his left foot, but his curling shot went narrowly wide. The young Latics side was totally dominant and were producing some delightful passing and build up play as Carlisle struggled to get even a touch of the ball.  Aasgaard tried his luck from range but the shot had too much elevation and failed to trouble the keeper.  On 26 minutes Aasgaard had another pot shot and this time the effort was on target, but a Carlisle defender managed to get himself goal side and the shot was blocked.  The goal felt like it must surely arrive soon as the pressure continued to build. Wyke nearly continued his recent scoring form when he got on the end of a typically excellent Pearce cross and volleyed in an effort that bounced up and hit the crossbar, before it was scrambled clear by the over-worked Cumbrian defence.

On 34 minutes the break-through came. Adeeko won the ball deep in midfield and surged forward into the Carlisle half. He then fed a neat pass through for WYKE who deftly dinked the ball over the on-rushing keeper and into the Carlisle net. Three minutes before the break it should have been 2-0 when Hughes headed against a post following another quality delivery following a Tom Pearce free kick.

Half Time; Carlisle United   0-1   Wigan Athletic.

The second half was a different story as Carlisle closed the Wigan side down much more aggressively and the increased physicality served to change the flow of the game. Latics did have a chance to put the game beyond the hosts early in the second period when Adeeko found room to cross and picked out Aasgaard and the Latics midfielder should have done better than fire straight at the keeper from 25 yards. The Carlisle strikers had been living off very meagre scraps up until the 56^th minute mark when a deflected shot from Maguire was stopped but not collected cleanly by Tickle in the Wigan goal and MOXON was the fastest to react and he bundled the ball home.

The equaliser lifted the home crowd and the game was now an ‘end-to-end’ affair.  Tickle was called into action again just past the hour mark when he had to claw out a deep cross from the right.

Humphrys and Magennis were brought on by Maloney but it was Carlisle who had the next real chance when Plange headed just over the bar.

As the game entered the final ten minutes Latics began to regain a degree of control and Humphrys nearly found Lang with a low cross, but the Wigan man just failed to apply the crucial touch. Lang then had another good opportunity, as the time ebbed away Magennis and Humphrys linked well to send the number 19 through on goal but Lang snatched at the shot and his effort flew over the

bar. Both sides pushed for a winner but in the end the points were shared and Wigan travelled home frustrated at two points dropped after such a bright first half showing.

Full Time; Carlisle United   1-1   Wigan Athletic.

Attendance; 8,649

Scorers; Wyke (34); Moxon (56);

Team; WIGAN --- (4-2-3-1); Tickle; Clare, Morrison, Hughes, Pearce; M Smith, Adeeko; Aasgaard, Lang, McManaman; Wyke; Subs; Humphrys, Sze, Magennis;

CARLISLE--- (4-1-2-1-2); Holy; Armer, Lavelle, Huntington, Ellis; Moxon; Mellish, Gibson; Guy; Edmondson, Maguire; Subs; Plange, Barclay, Charters;

Referee; M. Edwards.

The manager had mixed feelings about the nights work from his team. Bolton now stand proudly at the top of the table and Wigan would head to Bolton for a local derby that would have plenty of spice.

Bolton would remember well the last visit of their neighbours when Latics triumphed 4-0.

So, revenge would be on the menu, and an all-ticket 24,000 crowd could be expected.

The question was, could a young Wigan side rise to the occasion and hold their own against the league leaders.

It was a big ask, but the youthful Latics side had already shown that they were more than capable.