Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

WYCOMBE WANDERERS vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

12th March 2024.

LATICS SLIP TO DEFEAT DESPITE DOMINATING FOR LONG PERIODS.

The game started fairly quietly with Latics dominating possession but the only real effort at goal was from a corner when Goode leapt the highest but failed to direct his header on goal. Then on 19 minutes Wycombe finally engineered their first attacking move when a quick throw-in allowed Scowen to get a yard on Scott Smith and when the winger drove a hard shot across the goal TICKLE made an uncharacteristic handling error as he allowed the wet ball to squirm through his hands and in so doing he diverted the effort into the net. Tickle redeemed himself shortly after when he saved well from Leahy’s free-kick from distance.

Wigan continued to dominate the possession but the Chairboys were well organised in defence and kept the Wigan forwards at arms-length.  A Wycombe corner was delivered deep to the far post but Trafazolli failed to control his header which looped harmlessly over. Wigans best effort came just before the break when an Aasgaard cross found Magennis but his header was well blocked.

Half Time; Wycombe Wanderers 1-0 Wigan Athletic.

Maloney looked for a response from his charges and made three changes at half-time as he introduced Matt Smith, Godo, and Jones to try and add some cutting edge. However, it was the hosts that went close from another set piece with a back post header by Lubala passing just wide of the post. Latics did start to threaten and Jones used his pace to unsettle the defenders before feeding Magennis, he in turn found Humphrys but his shot was well blocked.

Jones continued to cause problems and he played in Godo who saw his shot from five yards out deflected just wide. The resulting corner found the head of Goode but he directed the effort straight at the keeper. More pressure from Latics saw Aasgaard heading wide, before, just after the hour mark, Jones saw a shot blocked. Another substitute Kelman was then denied as his header missed the target.

Jones continued to cause havoc in the Wycombe defence and another low cross was diverted away, then another substitute Chris Sze produced a good turn in the box but his shot flew inches wide.

Next it was Godo who beat his man and crossed for Aasgaard to head goalwards, but yet again the Chairboy defence managed to get a body in the way and the ball deflected wide. A nasty clash of heads saw Chris Sze leaving the field and Tom Pearce came on for his 100^th appearance. Seven minutes of added time saw Wigan go even closer, first Aasgaard was denied from close-range by the keeper, then Hughes saw his effort blocked. Keeper Franco Ravizzoli then saved again, this time diving low to block a Jordan Jones effort. When the final whistle came it seemed impossible that Wigan had not won, such was their dominance but Wycombe had given everyone a master class in defending and claimed the spoils.

Full Time; Wycombe Wanderers 1-0 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Tickle (OG, 19);

Attendance; 3,568

WIGAN (3-4-3) --- Tickle; Hughes, Goode, Morrison; Adeeko, J. Smith, S. Smith, Chambers; Humphrys, Magennis, Aasgaard; Subs; Godo, Kelman, Sze, Pearce, Jones, M. Smith;

WYCOMBE WANDERERS (4-3-3) --- Ravizzoli; Leahy, Tafazolli, Lonwijk, Grimmer; Butcher, Potts, Scowen; Taylor, Lubala, Campbell; Subs; Vokes, McCarthy, Kadua, Sadlier;

Referee; Mr. Scott Tallis (Coventry).