Friendly - Saturday 21st July 2001
ST. MIRREN
1
- Paul Ritchie 68
2
WIGAN ATHLETIC
2
- Andy Liddell 19, pen
- Ged Brannan 53
Report by SJG
Latics headed North to Scotland for a week-long training camp to get back to fitness after the summer break. Paul Jewell took the opportunity to look at a number of trialists and three games were arranged against local opposition.
FRIENDLY
ST. MIRREN vs WIGAN ATHLETIC
21st July 2001
LATICS EASE BACK INTO THE FRAY.
A fine glancing header from Ged Brannan and a confident Liddell penalty saw Wigan return to action with a narrow win against their hosts St. Mirren, who grabbed a goal of their own in the second half to set up an exciting finale in what was a good run out for both sides.
Latics took the lead in the 19th minute when LIDDELL opened his account for the season from the penalty spot and that was to be the only goal in a first half that, as is often the case in pre-season, lacked that competitive edge to truly test the combatants.
Half Time; St Mirren 0-1 Wigan Athletic.
Both sides used a number of substitutes in the second period as the aim was clearly to improve squad fitness rather than gain the bragging rights that come from victory. A quick play saw BRANNAN find space and time and he glanced home a second goal in the 53rd minute with a neat header.
The changes to the line ups did not help the pattern of play and RITCHIE pulled a goal back for the hosts to set up a more frantic finale which could easily have seen the Scottish side scoring again as they spurned a couple of very presentable chances in the closing stages.
Full Time; St. Mirren 1-2 Wigan Athletic.
Scorers; Liddell (19, pen), Brannan (53); Ritchie (68);
Attendance; 500
WIGAN ATHLETIC; Stillie; Nolan, Sharp, De Zeeuw, Tod; Brannan, Nicholls, Johnson, Kennedy; Roberts, Liddell; SUBS—McLoughlin (for Nicholls), Mclaughlin (for Kennedy), Mitchell (for Sharp), Green (for Nolan), Gallon (for Johnson);
ST. MIRREN; Roy; Robinson, Kerr, Turner, McLaughlin; Walker, Ritchie, Murray, McGarry; Bowman, Yardley; SUBS--- Rudden, McKenzie, Gillies, Quintango, Brown, McKnight, Scrimgour;
Referee; Mr. Colin Hardie.
Venue: St Mirren Park, Paisley
Attendance: 500
Kick Off: 15:00
Referee: Mr. Colin Hardie