Report by John Patrick Heeley

Wigan Athletic strolled to a comfortable win over Southport at their Haig Avenue ground with goals from Lee McCulloch and Jimmy Bullard adding to an early Neil Roberts opener giving the scoreline a little more respectability than the performance warranted.

The home side, complimented by Wigan old boy Lee Ashcroft in the forward line (yes, he did get a 'bit' of stick), didn't exactly endear themselves against their football league opponents.

Paul Jewell's men looked far more comfortable on the ball, as would be expected from a side that will be playing Division One football in a matter of weeks against a side that have Unibond action to look forward to.

Wigan didn't waste any time in opening their account on the night with NEIL ROBERTS giving his side the advantage early on.

Southport battled well but even the most die hard Sandgrounders fan must have realised that their side were a bit out of their depth and any brief moment of glory was not going to come from this particular evening's exchanges.

LEE MCCULLOCH doubled the lead just before half time when he found himself in space on the edge of the area before squeezing the ball past the helpless Southport keeper.

The second half saw Jason De Vos take to the field for his first taste of action since returning from international duty in the States with Canada.

He was joined by goalkeeper Gary Walsh who'd seemingly shaken off his thigh strain and was putting himself in the spotlight in a bid to prove himself worthy of a contract from his former team mate and gaffer but little happened in the second period at the Wigan end of the field, leaving the Wigan born shot stopper a virtual spectator.

One of the biggest cheers of the game arrived when Ashcroft was pulled from the field and then in the final 10 minutes or so both sides seemed to resort to caveman tactics with anything goes rules coming into force, probably out of sheer boredom, but legs can be broken and seasons cut short before they've even begun by such behaviour. It was fun to watch while it lasted nonetheless.

The game, although it had been a one sided contest from the kick off, was finished off by a 20 yard screamer from JIMMY BULLARD leaving the keeper no chance with virtually the last kick of the game.

As a spectator little could be taken from the game, not much happened which tends to be par for the course in the summer friendlies, but a win is a win and is also confidence boosting, especially with the days ticking away to the new season's start.