Report by SJG

B.S.M. TROPHY

CARLISLE UNITED vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

8^th October 2024

YOUNG TICS IMPRESS AS TROPHY CAMPAIGN GETS BACK ON TRACK.

A young Wigan Athletic XI featuring seven academy graduates impressed in a 2-0 away victory over Carlisle United in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy at Brunton Park.

Given the Club’s recent backlog of fixtures, the manager opted to make a number of changes, with only James Carragher retaining his place from last weekend's trip to Stockport County.

K'Marni Miller, a summer U21s signing and Tyrese Francois both came in for their Latics debuts. Latics Academy graduates Tom Watson, Harry McHugh, Kai Payne, Scott Smith and Stones all came into the starting line-up, along with Toby Sibbick, Jonny Smith and Olakigbe. 

It was a proud moment for Wiganer Scott Smith who captained his home town club for the first time and the side had an average age of just 21.5.

Francois looked lively from the off as he was played in down the left by Olakigbe and cut the ball back perfectly for Scott Smith, but his shot was deflected wide.

Latics then won a penalty after just six minutes. Francois pressured the defender who was trying to shield the ball out of play. That allowed Stones to nip the ball away from the defender and he was brought down. STONES took the penalty himself and rocketed the ball into the corner to send Latics into a seventh minute lead. Stones nearly made it two six minutes later, but his effort from the edge of the box was tipped over by the goalkeeper.

Sibbick then played Miller in one on one, but again Gabe Breeze was equal to it, saving down to his right to deny the Latics man a debut goal.

Wigan, however, were not to be denied and a second goal arrived in the 24th minute as the impressive OLAKIGBE found space down the left and raced into the penalty area, before firing a low shot that found the corner via the keeper’s hand and the post.

Stones was close to doubling his tally on the stroke of half time after Jonny Smith’s jinking run down the right led to a cut-back, but again Breeze was equal to it.

Half Time; Carlisle United 0-2 Wigan Athletic.

Latics started the second half brightly with Jonny Smith testing Breeze from distance after great build up play from Stones.

Maloney shuffled his pack in the second half with the introduction of Silko Thomas, Dion Rankine and Maleace Asamoah Jr and it was one of the changes who was close to making it three. Thomas picked the ball up down the left, cut inside and fired a low effort which Breeze got down low to save.

Latics perhaps didn’t create as many clear cut opportunities as we did in the first half, but it was a comfortable evening for Maloney’s young side who will all benefit from the minutes.

Carlisle, for their part, rarely threatened the Wigan goal and Watson had a quiet evening as he and his fellow defenders were able to keep up the impressive run of clean sheets.

More importantly it was three points in the quest to progress out of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy group. 

Full Time; Carlisle United 0-2 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Stones (7, pen), Olakigbe (24);

Attendance: 1,117

Teams; WIGAN— (4-2-3-1) Watson; McHugh, Sibbick, Carragher, Miller; Payne, S. Smith; Francois, J. Smith, Olakigbe; Stones; Subs; --- M. Smith (for Miller), Thomas (for Francois), Rankine (for J. Smith) Asamoah Jr (for Stones), Lonergan, Aimson, McManaman.

CARLISLE UNITED— (4-4-2) Breeze; Neal, Ellis, Robinson, Mellish; Sadi, Dudik, Barclay, Hetherington; O'Donoghue, Atkinson. Subs; --- Smith, Davies, Guy (for Neal), Charters (for Robinson), Fitzpatrick (for Mellish), Hopper (for Barclay), Mason (for Sadi).

Referee; Mr Steven Copeland (Merseyside)