Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs CRAWLEY TOWN

24^th August 2024 

NOT PRETTY………BUT IT’S A WIN.

Maloney handed a first League start to another academy graduate with young James Carragher coming in for Sessegnon.

Wigan began on the front foot with Kerr feeding Rankine on the wing and his whipped cross was just intercepted before Hugill could apply a telling touch.

A surging run by Aasgaard then had the Crawley defence backing off but his through ball to Hugill was cut out at full stretch by a defender’s leg.

Crawley were dominating possession but with little by way of end product, their best effort came from Armando Quitirna but his shot from 25 yards was straight at Tickle, who saved with relative ease. A potential flash-point saw Silko Thomas sent flying by a late challenge from Flint, who had earlier been booked, but the referee deemed the Latics man to be guilty of ‘simulation’ and awarded the visitors a free kick.

On 28 minutes Latics had the ball in the visitors net but the effort was ruled as offside, then two minutes later a probing move saw Wigan stretch the visitors defence and when Chambers produced a good cross Aasgaard was on hand to send a header towards goal. The header struck the defender MUKENA who will be credited with an own goal.

Wigan ended the half on the attack with both Rankine and Thomas causing problems in the wide areas.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 1-0 Crawley Town.

Latics continued to find some joy in the wide areas but the Crawley defence did well as they cut out a number of dangerous crosses.

On 52 minutes Thomas produced a strong run that took him to byline, but his shot-come-cross was blocked by Wollacott in the Crawley goal.

Wigan were being pushed back by Crawley who were enjoying plenty of possession and a snap shot by Adeyemo brought a fine save from Tickle who must have been partially unsighted but still saved well low to his left.

Play was stopped when Matt Smith went down with what looked to be a bad leg injury and Maloney, again showing great confidence in youth, sent on academy graduate Kai Payne to make his league debut. Payne was quickly involved and looked assured as he broke up a Crawley attack with a well-timed challenge.

On 75 minutes Hugill had a big chance to double the lead as he raced onto a long ball but his left-footed shot was hurried and flew over the bar as Crawley scrambled back to cover.

At the other end Jay Williams outjumped substitute Tony Sibbick, who had come on for his debut, but the defender just did enough and the point-blank header flew narrowly over.

Crawley threw men forward as they searched for the leveller, but Latics stood firm to take the win.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 1-0 Crawley Town.

Scorers; Mukena (30, og);

Attendance; 8,432

Teams; WIGAN— (4-2-3-1) Tickle; Carragher, Aimson, Kerr, Chambers; M. Smith, Adeeko; Aasgaard, Thomas, Rankine; Hugill; Subs; Sibbick (for Carragher), Payne (for M.Smith), S. Smith (for Thomas), McManaman (for Rankine), Sze (for Hugill);

CRAWLEY— (3-4-2-1) Wollacott; Mullarkey, Mukena, Flint; Adeyemo, Williams, Anderson, Quitirna; Kelly, Darcy; Hepburn-Murphy; Subs; Bragg (for Adeyemo), Camara (for Anderson), Roles (for Williams);

Referee; Mr Keith Stroud (Hampshire)