Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs BOLTON WANDERERS

1^st April 2025

DERBY DAY DELIGHT FOR THE TROTTERS.

A last-gasp goal in added time was the difference on derby night at the Brick Community Stadium.

It was a tight and tense game overall, but Chris Forino's 92nd minute prod towards goal was the difference in the end as Latics' ten- year winning streak over rivals Bolton Wanderers finally came to an end.

Head Coach Ryan Lowe, who was shown a red card in the aftermath of the winning goal, opted to make two changes from Saturday's draw against Barnsley. 

Maleace Asamoah Jr was rewarded with a start on the back of his clinical equalising goal, along with Harry McHugh who impressed in the latter stages of Latics' last league outing.

The atmosphere inside the Brick Community Stadium was electric after MC Finchy’s pre-match performance which was followed by a Pyro display as the players entered the field.

Both sides looked for a lightning start as first Aaron Collins slipped in behind the Latics defence, but Will Aimson recovered well to clear the danger before at the right end Asamoah Jr did likewise, but a covering Bolton defender snuffed out his opportunity.

Aimson then did brilliantly to get a flick on Joel Randall’s 20-yard strike which drifted just wide of Sam Tickle’s far post.

Jonny Smith tried his luck from distance via a free-kick which was easily caught by Nathan Baxter before Josh Sheehan then blazed wide.

Asamoah Jr then had the best chance of the half just three minutes before the interval. Jonny Smith broke down the left and crossed, but our number 37 just couldn’t control his header and it sailed over the bar.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-0 Bolton Wanderers.

The visitors had the first attempt of the second half as George Johnston tested Tickle from distance before George Thomason headed over from the resulting corner.

John McAtee then headed over a Josh Dacres-Cogley cross before Collins had a shot which deflected inches wide of the goal.

Latics, who were being forced to sit deeper and deeper in defence, still looked dangerous in transition and Owen Dale crossed for Asamoah Jr who was inches away from getting a vital touch.

Bolton continued to dominate possession and Dacres-Cogley found space on the right and his chipped ball to the back post for Johnston, but the ex-Wigan man could only volley wide.

Both sides pushed for what would have been a late derby winner as we headed into five minutes of added time and it was the visitors who snatched it at the death.

Latics failed to deal with a corner kick and a goalmouth scramble followed with Latics spurning a number of chances to hack the ball clear and FORINO-JOSEPH poked the ball into the corner of Tickle’s net from close range.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 0-1 Bolton Wanderers.

Scorers; Forino-Joseph (90+2);

Attendance; 15,445

Teams; WIGAN— (3-5-2) Tickle; Carragher, Aimson, Kerr; Dale, S. Smith, Norburn, McHugh, J. Smith; Asamoah, Taylor; Subs: --- Watson, Mellish, Hungbo (for J. Smith), McManaman (for Asamoah), Darcy (for Norburn), L. Robinson (for Dale), Weir;

BOLTON--- (3-4-3) Baxter; Forrester, Forino-Joseph, Johnston; Dacres-Cogley, Sheehan, Thomason, Osei-Tutu; Randall, Collins, McAtee; Subs: --- Jones (for McAtee), Murphy, Carlos Mendez (for Collins), Southwood, Schon (for Osei-Tutu), Matete (for Randall), Etete

Referee; Mr. Farai Hallam. (London)