Report by SJG

B.S.M./ VERTU TROPHY

CHESTERFIELD vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

10^th December 2024

LATICS OLD BOYS HAVE LAST LAUGH AS WEMBLEY DREAM DIES.

Wigan locked horns with a side with a large ex-Latics contingent, both in the playing squad and in the manager’s dug-out.

Shaun Maloney shuffled his pack following the league outing against Leyton Orient with Adeeko and Sibbick the only players to retain their places from the weekend.

Former Latics Academy graduate Berry-McNally started for the hosts, while Ryan Colclough and Will Grigg were named on the bench for former Latics manager and player Paul Cook's side.

The hosts took the lead with their first meaningful attack as Drummond was played in, he rounded Watson before squaring and when Ramsay fluffed his hurried clearance it fell perfectly for the arriving DOBRA who fired into the net past a host of Latics players.

Wigan looked to respond three minutes later as Chesterfield goalkeeper Ryan Boot went walkabout and Joe Hugill took the ball off him, but he hurriedly fired wide from distance. Adeeko then made a brilliant run in behind the defence, and his dangerous low cross somehow evaded three Latics men and went out for a throw. Wigan continued to press and James Carragher had a free header at the back post following a Latics corner, but he failed to hit the target. Hugill then robbed a Chesterfield defender and bore in on goal but was denied by Boot from distance. Latics deserved the leveller on 19 minutes as Hugill fed MCMANAMAN on the edge of the box and his deflected shot arrowed into the corner of the net.

At the other end, Berry swung a free kick in from the left which went all the way through a crowded goalmouth and rebounded off the far post before being hooked to safety. Hugill was then played clean through by a wonderful ball by Sibbick, but Boot again denied him when one-on-one.

Half Time; Chesterfield 1-1 Wigan Athletic.

The second half began with Michael Olakigbe meeting McManaman’s cross on the volley, but his effort was blocked before Drummond went down in the box at the other end, but no penalty was awarded.

Wigan continued to look the more dangerous of the sides and Hugill produced a fine pull back that put the ball on a plate for substitute Aasgaard, but he hit his shot from inside the box wildly over the crossbar. Aasgaard then wonderfully turned his man inside the box and looked like he was clipped as he fell to the ground, but again Greg Rollason waved away the protests.

A penalty was finally awarded when substitute Ryan Colclough was taken down by Paul Dummett and BERRY-MCNALLY tucked the penalty just beyond Watsons full length dive. The hosts put the game to bed three minutes from time through substitute MARKANADY who latched onto a loose pass and burst forward before placing his shot in the far bottom corner with an impressive finish.

Hugill did pull one back in added time as he slotted the ball under the goalkeeper after latching onto a speculative through ball by James Carragher, but Chesterfield held out to progress.

Full Time; Chesterfield 3-2 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; McManaman (19), Hugill (90+2); Dobra (3), Berry-McNally (78, pen), Markanday (87);

Attendance; 1,583

Teams; WIGAN— (4-2-3-1) Watson; Ramsay, Sibbick, Carragher, Robinson; Adeeko, M. Smith; Olakigbe, Sze, McManaman; Hugill; Subs: --- Tickle, Taylor, Paine (for Ramsay), Dummett (for Robinson), J. Smith (for McManaman), Carragher, S. Smith (for M. Smith), Aasgaard (for Sze);

CHESTERFIELD--- (4-1-4-1) Boot; Horton, Grimes, Araujo, Jessop; Oldaker; Berry-McNally, Dobra, Hodson, Mandeville; Drummond; Subs: --- Colclough (for Mandeville), Cook (for Horton), Markanday (for Dobra), Grigg (for Drummond), Gordon (for Jessop), Thompson, Sheckleford.

Referee; Mr. Greg Rollason (Wolverhampton).