Jarrett opens account to send Latics through at Sixfields

Wigan Athletic produced on of their most impressive displays of the season to ensure their name goes into the hat for Saturday afternoon's draw for the Second Round of the Worthington Cup and the chance of being paired with Premiership opposition thanks to Jason Jarrett's first ever goal in a Wigan Athletic shirt just after the half hour mark.

Jarrett, signed from nearby Bury for a bargain £75,000 on deadline day last season, found the back of the net with a thunderous 20 yard drive for the only goal of the match but the scoreline flattered the home side with Andy Liddell denied a couple of goals by superb saves in the second half from former Chesterfield keeper Nathan Abbey, making his debut for The Cobblers following his summer move from Derbyshire.

Wigan's winner was wrapped in controversy however, as the home faithful believed they had been denied a free kick during the build up to the goal with Andy Liddell seeming to wrestle with Northampton defender Duncan Spedding before supplying Jarrett with the ball for his stunning strike.

Wigan's injury problems were handed a heavy blow minutes later with Lee McCulloch needed stretchering from the field following a collision with on loan defender Jerry Gill, the former Motherwell man injuring his thigh as a result and now looks unlikely to be available for the trip to Chesterfield on Saturday.

Latics started the game with the same eleven that had finished Saturday's game with Gary Teale beginning the game after replacing the injured Ged Brannan against Lawrie Sanchez's side.

Scott Green continued at right back with Paul Mitchell continuing to impress in the centre of midfield alongside Jason Jarrett.

Tony Dinning was again left on the bench in what was his last game before his three match suspension for the sending off at Colchester and Lee Ashcroft made the 16 man squad for the first time this season with a seat alongside Dinning.

Northampton went on the attack from the outset and saw Jamie Forrester put a shot wide from 25 yards with six minutes on the clock and minutes later attempted another one from the same distance but neither shot really looked to have troubled John Filan in the Wigan goal.

Wigan's first shot on target came from Lee McCulloch just before the 10 minute mark but his low drive was easily collected by Nathan Abbey before Andy Liddell fired one across the face of goal from the edge of the area.

Wigan had now stepped up a gear and Scott Green looked a lonely figure stood on the half way line with the rest of Wigan's outfield players camped in the Northampton half.

Jason De Vos saw his header from a Gary Teale corner cleared from the line by skipper Paul Trollope and then Nathan Ellington was denied by Abbey.

Wigan's winner came in the 31st minute and left Northampton manager Kevan Broadhurst and the 2,000 or so home fans unhappy with referee Steve Baines.

Andy Liddell battled for the ball with former Southampton defender Duncan Spedding midway into Northampton territory. Spedding began to lean into Liddell and the Wigan forward appeared to wrestle the defender to the floor before rounding him and putting the ball across for JASON JARRETT to fire home from just outside the area.

With the home faithful's booing still echoing around the ground Lee McCulloch and Jerry Gill, on loan from Birmingham City, both went in for the ball with the Wigan midfielder narrowily beating his opponent to it.

Gill found his way into the book for his efforts and McCulloch, after attention from Wigan physio Alex Cribley, was stretched from the field with the Cobblers' support still questioning Baines' personal habits.

Andy Liddell moved into the gap vacated by his team mate and Neil Roberts, brought on as a replacement, moved into attack to partner Ellington.

Forrester tested Filan with a header early in the second half but the Australian was upto the task and held comfortably.

Wigan went close to doubling the deficit ten minutes after the restart when Wigan skipper Jason De Vos headed across goal from a Scott Green free kick.

Neil Roberts burst through to get an outstretched boot on the end of the ball but Abbey was on hand to push away from close range.

Abbey was in action again just before the hour when Andy Liddell curled a superb ball from the left side of the area towards the top far corner of goal, the Chesterfield keeper stretching full length to his right to tip over for a corner.

Liddell attempted a similar shot moments later and again Abbey was there to pull off an equally impressive save to deny Wigan's leading marksman his sixth goal of the season, again putting behind for another corner kick.

French striker Armand One, signed on loan from Cambridge United only that morning, was introduced to the fray with less than 15 minutes remaining and the 6' 4" forward immediately made an impact on the game, using his frame to bundle his way forward down the right before forcing a corner for his new side.

Dean Trollope swung the ball in from the flag and Filan could only get a fist to it, punching the ball only as far as Paul McGregor and luckily for Wigan the former Nottingham Forest couldn't keep his shot down and blazed over the bar.

Despite Northampton's complaints about the decision leading to the winning goal, Wigan had won the game on merit and were worthy of their place in the Second Round, the draw to be shown live on Sky Sports this Saturday afternoon.