Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

BOLTON WANDERERS   vs   WIGAN ATHLETIC

19^th August 2023

LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE.

Latics made the short journey to local rivals, Bolton and came away with the bragging rights, as for the second time in recent years they notched up an impressive 4-0 away victory.

Latics took the lead after just 12 minutes when a Tom Pearce corner was allowed to bounce in the six-yard box and a stooping WYKE headed home unchallenged.

Bolton pushed for an instant response but Sam Tickle in the Wigan goal, cheered on by around 4,000 Latics fans in the stand behind him, was at his most commanding best as he came for crosses and inspired his other defenders.

24 minutes and Wigan doubled their lead. Lang harried the home defence and managed to win the ball deep in the Bolton half, he checked inside and shot low and hard from 20 yards, the shot forced a diving save from the Bolton keeper but the ball bounced kindly for Latics and the parried shot fell to HUMPHRYS who fired home into the opposite corner of the net.

The league leaders were visibly shocked and the home crowd was growing restless as the huge Latics following sang louder and louder.  Bolton striker Nlundulu managed to get on the end of a cross by Morley, but his header was straight at Tickle, who collected with ease. Then the same striker managed to get a shot away inside a crowded penalty area but again Tickle was equal to it.

A minute before half-time Wigan made it three. A speculative through ball caught the Bolton defenders sleeping and Lang sprinted onto the through ball and fired in a shot, but the defenders managed to block the goal-bound effort. However, it fell kindly for HUMPHRYS who was able to set himself before firing home.

Half Time; Bolton Wanderers 0-3   Wigan Athletic.

The second half started with Bolton pushing hard to try and get back in the game and restore some pride. A well worked move down the Bolton right flank ended with the ball being pulled back to the edge of the box but the strike by Dacres-Cogley flew narrowly wide with Tickle, for once, beaten.

Bolton continued to press, and Maloney elected to action a double substitution with Morrison entering the fray along with Scott Smith as the Latics defence was re-enforced. On 70 minutes Morrison was in decisive action as he bravely blocked a Mendes Gomes effort inside the penalty box. Latics still carried a threat in attack and Lang in-particular was enjoying the spaces that were now appearing as Bolton pushed forward.

With 15 minutes left on the clock, and with Boltons heads visibly dropping Matt Smith played a slide rule pass that released WYKE. The big forward chose to shoot early but Baxter in the Bolton goal got a big hand on the effort. However, the shot looped high in the air before dropping into the Bolton net.  The home side did have one last chance to gain a consolation goal but Bodvarrson failed to hit the target with his first time shot. Adeeko for Latics had a cross-cum-shot that had Baxter scrambling to palm away, and then Bolton veteran substitute Jerome got in a header that looped onto the roof of the Wigan net. The Bolton fans were leaving in their droves well before the final whistle as the Latics faithful sang and danced in delight. It was very much Wigans day.

Full Time; Bolton Wanderers   0-4   Wigan Athletic.

Attendance; 24,116

Scorers; Wyke (12), (75); Humphrys (24), (45);

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

BOLTON---(3-1-4-2); Baxter; Jones, Santos, Iredale; Sheehan; Williams, Dempsey, Morley, Dacres-Cogley; N’Lundulu, Adeboyejo; Subs; Mendes, Maghoma, Bodvarsson, Jerome, Forrester;

Referee; T. Reeves.

The three points saw Latics arrive in positive numbers and climb out of the relegation places. The spirit and mood in the club could not be more buoyant and the future, which for so long had looked bleak at best, was now starting to be tinged with a warm rosy glow.