Report by John Patrick Heeley

Wigan moved two points clear at the top of Division Two but it took a couple of scrappy second half goals to see off Cambridge United after the visitors had taken a shock first half lead, controversially from the penalty spot.

Wigan manager Bruce Rioch was far from happy with his side's first half performance which to put it bluntly was pretty dire for a team with aspirations of playing at a higher level.

Wigan saw a chance go begging in the opening minutes of the game when Andy Liddell laid on the ball to midfielder Ian Kilford who lined up his shot but managed to hoof it yards over the Cambridge crossbar and into the middle of the North Stand.

With nearly half an hour gone Cambridge defender Mark Joseph went close to powering a header into his own goal after intercepting a Brian McLaughlin cross into the centre of the penalty area but former Sunderland and Newcastle keeper Lionel Perez was on hand to collect.

With the first half drawing to a lifeless conclusion Cambridge were awarded a free kick just outside the Wigan area which Roy Carroll did well to tip over the bar after Cambridge's John Dreyer had fired over the wall.

What happened next is beyond me. Roy Carroll came off his line to collect the resulting corner and there seemed to be a bit of jostling around the goalmouth and Nottingham referee Frank Stretton appeared to have awarded Wigan a free kick and both set of players made their way back up the field.

However, the referee had a word with his assistant and placed the ball on the penalty spot much to the bemusement of everybody in the ground. Roy Carroll had been adjudged to have held down John Dreyer as he came for the ball.

Former Wigan midfielder NEIL MUSTOE sent Carroll the wrong way as he converted the penalty his joy at scoring against his former club was obvious as he aimed his celebrations towards the back of the West Stand where the Wigan officials were sat.

HALF TIME: Wigan 0 Cambridge 1

Latics came out for the second half chasing the game and went close to equalising in the opening minutes when Scott Green fired into the side netting.

However, it was Cambridge minutes later who nearly doubled the deficit when Youngs found himself clear on goal but his shot rattled off the bottom of the post.

On 54 minutes Bruce Rioch decided to play all of his cards and made a triple substitution. Brian McLaughlin, Pat McGibbon and Darren Sheridan came off and were replaced by Lee Ashcroft, Roberto Martinez and Wigan's latest recruit Dane Stefan Bidstrup.

The shrewd gamble made by Rioch seemed to be paying off as Wigan took control of the game and with just over an hour gone Ian Kilford found himself in a good position on the edge of the Cambridge area but a moments hesitation on the ball saw a defender manage to block Kilford's shot on goal and go behind for a corner.

The resulting corner was swung into the middle of the goalmouth and debut boy Bidstrup raced in between the waiting pack but saw his downward header bounce over the bar.

Wigan attacked relentlessly, trying to find the equaliser but Perez was in fine form, making a number of fine saves to deny the home side.

Wigan got the leveller after 74 minutes when Andy Liddell won the ball from a couple of defenders on the Cambridge touchline.

Liddell fired low across the goal and NEIL ROBERTS was there to tap in from 2 yards.

Latics continued to push Cambridge in a bid to grab maximum points and just as the game seemed to be ending up drawn, just as the two encounters did last season, Wigan got their winner.

It wasn't the best of goals by a long chalk but they all count.

Perez did well to save from Ian Kilford but as he attempted to recover the loose ball it deflected off substitute PAUL WANLESS and bobbled into the net for an own goal.

With Walsall playing out a goalless draw at Bristol Rovers the win takes Wigan two points clear at the top of the table, a position they haven't been in since January.

FULL TIME: Wigan 2 Cambridge 1