Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs PORT VALE

6th April 2024.

TICKLE AT HIS BEST AS LATICS HELD IN STALEMATE.

Injuries to a number of players meant that Maloney had to make four changes to the starting XI. Vale who were desperate for points in the relegation battle began well and settled quickly with Chislett, who scored a hat-trick in the game at Vale Park, firing over from 25 yards. At the other end Callum McManaman was looking lively and after bursting forward and checking inside he warmed the hands of the Vale keeper with a stinging shot. On 14 minutes McManaman fed Matt Smith and the ex-Arsenal midfielder fired a low ball across goal that Aasgaard unsuccessfully tried to divert goalwards. On 25 minutes Sam Tickle continued his highly impressive breakthrough season when he came to the home sides rescue. Garrity was played into space and found Massey, and the former-Tic was only denied a goal by a brave smothering save.

Godo had a curling shot after he cut inside from the left wing, then for Vale Ethan Chislett pulled a cross back for Garrity but he scuffed his shot wide. A corner, deep in stoppage time, saw Aasgaard arriving late at the back post but his header was badly timed and was saved by Ripley at the second attempt.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-0 Port Vale.

Vale manager, Darren Moore, would have been the happier of the two managers at the break and after Maloney’s half time team talk Wigan started the second period passing the ball with more purpose and were perhaps unlucky when a Matt Smith cross just evaded Scott Smith who was stretching to try and get the vital touch.

Maloney brought on Kelman and Jonny Smith as he searched for the crucial first goal and a few minutes later Wigan created their best chance of the game.

Matt Smith played Godo in with a slide-rule pass but the winger could not apply the required finish and from a tight angle he struck the inside of the post and when Kelman pounced on the rebound he was flagged offside.

Chances were being created at both ends with Nathan Smith getting on the end of a free-kick, but at full stretch he was unable to direct his effort onto the target. Then a deep corner from Jonny Smith picked out Aasgaard but his powerful close-range header was straight at the keeper. With eleven minutes left on the clock Jonny Smith fired a curling effort that caught Ripley flat-footed in the Vale goal but it flew narrowly wide. With time running out Vale began to look more dangerous and only brilliant keeping by Tickle kept them at bay.  Tickle saved a deflected effort by Plant with his legs and when the follow up was fired back by Dipepa the young keeper reacted superbly to plunge to his left and push the ball wide of the goal.

In added time another Latics substitute, Liam Shaw, fired in a long-range effort but it flew over the crossbar and both sides had to settle for a point.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 0-0 Port Vale.

Attendance; 12,572

WIGAN (3-4-2-1) --- Tickle; Hughes, Kerr, Goode; Sessegnon, Adeeko, M. Smith, S. Smith; McManaman, Godo; Aasgaard; Subs; Kelman, J. Smith, Sze, Shaw, Pearce;

PORT VALE (3-4-1-2) --- Ripley; Sang, N. Smith, Iacovitti; Plant, Garrity, Ojo, Sharrock; Chislett; Massey, Loft; Subs; Dipepa, Ikpeazu, Grant, Weir;

Referee; Mr. P. Howard;