Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs STOCKPORT COUNTY

15^th February 2025

MISSED CHANCES LET COUNTY OFF THE HOOK.

Two second half goals inside three minutes were the difference as Latics fell to defeat at the hands of high-flying Stockport County.

Shaun Maloney made one change from last weekend’s spirited FA Cup defeat to Premier League side Fulham, with Jon Mellish coming in for Luke Robinson at left-back.

Ex-Latics loanees Kyle Knoyle and Callum Connolly started for the away side, while ex-Latics Academy graduate Sam Cosgrove was named on the bench. 

The visitors, in front of over 3,500 vocal travelling fans had the first attempt after just 30 seconds as Iboi Touray tried his luck from distance. Sam Tickle got a firm hand to it, but it needed Jason Kerr to knock the ball behind before Kyle Wooton could latch onto the rebound.

Latics had a big chance to take the lead just four minutes later. Mellish turned well in the box and fired the ball across the face of goal. Eventually the ball reached Jensen Weir, but he sliced his rushed effort wide of the post.

Jonny Smith then cut in as he often does from the right and fired a low shot which Hinchcliffe did well to tip round for a corner.

Sam Tickle then came to Latics rescue saving well from Ethan Pye from close range following a deep free-kick that allowed the Stockport man to ghost in at the back post.

James Carragher tested Hinchliffe with a volley from the edge of the box on the stroke of half time which the Stockport number one did well to save with his legs. That was to be the last piece of action for Hinchliffe who was replaced due to injury as he had twisted a knee in making the block.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-0 Stockport County.

It was a bright start to the second half as Dale Taylor turned brilliantly in the box, but he saw his snapshot well saved by substitute goalkeeper Addai.

Tickle then denied Stockport from a corner before Will Collar’s scuffed effort was easily saved by the Latics number one.

Maloney made a number of second half changes and one of those Joseph Hungbo was causing problems for Stockport down their left side.

Hungbo played in fellow substitute Darcy clean through, but substitute goalkeeper Addai got a vital leg to his effort to divert the ball wide. The miss was to prove crucial as County grabbed the opening goal shortly after.

The visitors punished Latics after a Camps cross from the left was met by BATE inside the box and he fired low past Tickle.

Three minutes later it was two as Camps crossed again this time for COLLAR to fire home at the far post.

Kerr thought he had Latics back in it two minutes from the end of normal time, but somehow Addai, who was the stand-out player for the visitors, got a hand to his header and promotion hunting County came away with the three points.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 0-2 Stockport County.

Scorers; Bate (79), Collar (82);

Attendance; 12,347

Teams; WIGAN— (4-2-3-1) Tickle; Sibbick, Carragher, Kerr, Mellish; S. Smith, Adeeko; Weir, J. Smith, Asamoah; Taylor; Subs: --- Watson, Aimson, McHugh (for S. Smith), Dale (for Asamoah), Darcy (for Adeeko), Goodwin (for Carragher), Hungbo (for J. Smith);

STOCKPORT COUNTY-- (3-4-1-2) Hinchcliffe; Knowle, Connolly, Pye; Diamond, Moxon, Norwood, Touray; Collar; Olaofe, Wootton; Subs: --- Addai (for Hinchcliffe), Bate (for Diamond), Camps (for Moxon), Hills (for Collar), Benony, Andresson, Cosgrove, Hamilton;

Referee; Mr. Darren Drysdale (Lincolnshire).