Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

EXETER CITY vs WIGAN ATHLETIC.

8^th April 2025

TAYLOR IS SPOT ON AS LATICS INCH THEIR WAY TO SAFETY

Wigan Athletic picked up a second point on the road in as many games after a hard fought 1-1 draw with Exeter City at St James Park.

Ryan Lowe made one change from the last league outing at Brisbane Road, with Asamoah Jr replacing Jonny Smith in the starting line-up. Scott Smith made his 100th career appearance.

Latics started well with early pressure in the Exeter half, Asamoah Jr tested Joe Whitworth whilst the hosts had a couple efforts that flew well over Sam Tickle’s goal.

Harry McHugh was impressing in the middle of the park and fed Asamoah Jr again who again rushed his shot and fired his effort straight at the Exeter number one.

Jack Fitzwater nodded on a long throw which Tickle caught easily before he quickly launched the ball forward for Asamoah Jr and after Whitworth committed himself, he just about took the ball off our speedy frontman before he could take it round him and score.

Tickle then had to be sharp to deny Reece Cole’s curling effort from the edge of the box, which he did well to tip away.

Half Time; Exeter City 0-0 Wigan Athletic.

Latics won their first league penalty of the season just five minutes after the restart as Luke Robinson slipped in Asamoah Jr and his clever footwork took him away from Angus MacDonald who put a leg out and brought him down.

The referee pointed to the spot and DALE TAYLOR stepped up and calmly finished in the centre of the goal to put Lowe’s men ahead.

The Exeter goalkeeper then, crucially, came to the hosts rescue as Asamoah Jr’s well hit shot, after a corner was only partially cleared, looked certain to double the tally but Whitworth somehow kept it out.

The hosts pushed for a leveller with a succession of corners and they got their goal as a long throw was only partially cleared and it fell to Reece COLE on the edge of the box who volleyed the ball into the ground and the fortuitous bounce saw the ball loop into the top corner of Tickle’s goal.

Latics were still a threat on the counter-attack and Taylor raced clear before slipping in McHugh, but the ball was just behind him and that allowed the Exeter defender to get a foot in and avert the danger.

Asamoah then had a big chance seven minutes from the end as he found himself clean through after Carragher’s ball over the top had caught the home defence square, but his looping effort drifted wide of the far post.

Full Time; Exeter City 1-1 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Taylor (51, pen); Cole (69);

Attendance; 5,382

Teams; WIGAN— (4-3-3) Tickle; Carragher, Aimson, Kerr, Robinson; S. Smith, Weir, McHugh; Dale, Asamoah, Taylor; Subs: --- Watson, Hungbo, McManaman, Adeeko (for S. Smith), Mellish (for Robinson), J. Smith (for Dale), Sibbick (for McHugh);

EXETER CITY--- (3-4-2-1) Whitworth; MacDonald, Fitzwater, Hartridge; McMillan, Woods, Cole, Niskanen; Colwill, Cox; Magennis; Subs: --- Purrington, Francis (for Colwill), Oluwabori (for Cox), Watts (for Cole), Harper (for Fitzwater), McDonald, Yogane;

Referee; Mr. David Rock. (Hertfordshire)