Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs FLEETWOOD TOWN

28^th November 2023

BACK-TO-BACK LEAGUE WINS AS WIGAN START TO CLIMB.

Wigan began with confidence and Godo won an early corner as they looked to put the Fleetwood defence under early pressure. That pressure was soon rewarded when JONES scored in the fourth minute. Pearce clipped a ball over the defensive line and the Wigan winger used power and pace to sprint clear before finishing with a firm low shot past Lynch.

Wigan nearly added a second on nine minutes when Humphrys produced a trademark run and shot that deflected narrowly wide of the goal.

Fleetwood began to grow into the game and they looked a threat at set pieces. In the 14^th minute a deep floated free kick found the head of Heneghan and he directed a powerful header just past Tickle’s near post. In the 19^th minute Tickle had to be agile to palm a looping header from Heneghan onto the roof of the net following a corner.

Tickle was called upon again just a minute later when Latics were dispossessed in their own half and Broom curled a shot that needed Tickle’s fingertips to divert it round the post.

Latics began to regain some control and Lang broke away from deep, only to be hauled back by Heneghan who was rightly booked. Then on the half hour a well worked short corner saw Humphrys driving to the by-line before drilling the ball across the face of the goal and Clare was on hand to bundle the ball home via the chest of the unlucky LYNCH.

Wigan were now brimming with confidence and another sweeping move involving Godo, Humphrys and Lang saw Jones in on goal and only a fine save by the on-rushing Lynch avoided a third goal. Then on the stroke of half-time Earl was dismissed for two yellow cards, the first was for an early foul and the second was for simulation when he was, perhaps harshly, adjudged to have dived following a coming together with Godo in the Wigan penalty area.                 

 Half Time; Wigan Athletic 2-0 Fleetwood Town.

The second half was very much one way traffic, and Latics nearly added a third in the 57^th minute when Lang got on the end of a delicate Godo cross but his header, from a difficult angle, went into the side netting. The third goal arrived four minutes later. The lively Godo set off on another jinking run and was tripped on the edge of the box. Tom PEARCE, using his trusty left boot fired the resulting free-kick past a flat-footed Lynch.

Baba Adeeko then tried to get in on the goal action in the 72^nd minute, but the increasingly busy Lynch did well to save his powerful drive.

Wigan continued to dominate the ball but both sides seemed happy to accept the result and the closing minutes passed by without any major incidents.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 3-0 Fleetwood Town.

Scorers; Jones (4), Lynch (30, OG), Pearce (61);

Attendance; 8,129

Team; WIGAN---(4-2-3-1); Tickle; Hughes, Rekik, Pearce, Clare; Adeeko, S. Smith; Jones, Godo, Lang; Humphrys; Subs; Sze, Magennis, McManaman, Shaw, Stones;

FLEETWOOD---(4-3-3); Lynch; Rooney, Heneghan, Holgate, Earl; Broom, Wiredu, Robertson; Mayor, Marriott, Patterson; Subs; Johnston, Olabasun-Lawal, Hayes, Stockley, Vela;

Referee; Mr Edward Duckworth (Preston).

The result moved Wigan up to 14^th spot in the table, eleven points off a play-off place, and now six points above the drop zone. 

Next up for Wigan, a trip to non-league York City in the second round of the F. A. Cup. The Sky T.V. cameras will be there as the game has been selected for live coverage. Clearly the T. V. pundits think the game could produce a shock giant-killing. Certainly, the game will not be an easy one for the boys in blue. It will be the first visit to York since they left their much- loved Bootham Crescent ground. Over the years the two sides have met in the Cup on several occasions but this must be the first time that York have started as underdogs.