Report by SJG

FRIENDLY

A.F.C. FYLDE vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

 20^th July 2021

FANS RETURN AS HUMPHRYS FIRES FINE WINNING GOAL.

Latics continued their pre-season preparations for the 2021-22 League One campaign with a trip to AFC Fylde on Tuesday evening, winning 1-0 at Mill Farm. 

Stephen Humphrys scored the solidarity goal against the Coasters in some style in the 49th minute, after firing an unstoppable free-kick into the top right corner. 

Latics named a strong starting XI for their trip to Mill Farm, with new signings Jack Whatmough, Tom Naylor, Jordan Cousins, Gwion Edwards, and Charlie Wyke all starting alongside Jamie Jones, Tendayi Darikwa, Tom Pearce, Adam Long, Will Keane, and a trialist. 

Former Latics players Luke Burke, Emeka Obi, Luke Joyce, and David Perkins all started for the hosts, with Nick Chadwick also occupying his position in the AFC Fylde managerial dugouts. 

On the back of their opening pre-season victory against Oldham Athletic, Latics started brightly and almost took the lead at Mill Farm through Wyke in the ninth minute. Keane chested the ball out wide to the trialist, and the winger was able to accelerate past Burke before crossing it in towards Wyke, but the former Sunderland striker could only divert his header over the crossbar. 

Leam Richardson’s side continued their spell of early pressure, with Wyke once again coming close to breaking the deadlock, but goalkeeper Chris Neal provided an excellent acrobatic save to claw his effort over the crossbar from Gwion Edwards’ pinpoint cross. 

After weathering the storm during the first 15-minutes, the National League North side had the ball in the back of the net through Jack Sampson, but the forward was adjudged as offside after Sam Osborne’s shot was deflected into his path at the far post. 

AFC Fylde began to grow into the pre-season friendly, with Burke heading just wide in the 19th minute before Nick Haughton tested Jamie Jones with a low effort after he cut inside from the left channel. 

As the first half progressed, Wyke was sent racing through on goal in the 35th minute following a direct long ball from Long, but Obi recovered well and stopped the powerful forward from advancing further. 

The visitors had one final chance on the stroke of half-time, with Keane dispossessing Perkins in the final third and laying the ball into Edwards’ path, but the Welsh winger was denied by another strong save by Neal from the edge of the area. 

Half Time; AFC Fylde 0-0 Wigan Athletic.

Latics made seven changes to their starting XI at the interval in order to ensure that each squad member gains invaluable match fitness ahead of the 2021-22 League One campaign. Ben Amos, Luke Robinson, Max Power, Thelo Aasgaard, Callum Lang, Stephen Humphrys and a trialist entered the fray in place of Jones, Long, Pearce, Cousins, Keane, Wyke, and the trialist. 

The away side opened the scoring in the 49th minute courtesy of a stunning free-kick from Humphrys. After winning the free-kick following a powerful driving run, HUMPHRYS picked himself up and unleashed a rocket into the top right corner from 18-yards out. 

The forward almost scored his second of the evening one minute later but he was denied by Neal from a tight angle after he found space in behind the AFC Fylde backline. 

Latics had another chance to double their slender advantage in the 58th minute after Lang was sent through on goal by Power’s defence-splitting pass, but Obi slowed him down before Neal dove on the ball as he tried to round him and slot home. 

The away side made further changes on the hour mark with Naylor being replaced by Under 23’s captain Scott Smith before Edwards made way for a third trialist in the 68th minute. Whatmough and Darikwa were also replaced by James Carragher and Kieran Lloyd in the final quarter after getting 75 minutes under their belt. 

Substitute Ben Pollitt was able to whip a dangerous cross into Jordan Hulme at the far post in the 84th minute, but the centre forward couldn’t quite reach it. 

Latics were able to comfortably see the pre-season encounter out during the dying stages, with Richardson’s side putting together some impressive patterns of play whilst in possession. 

It was an extremely competitive fixture for Latics, with both sets of players giving a good account of themselves in front of a lively crowd who were clearly delighted to see the COVID rules relaxed so that they could see live football once more.

Full Time; Oldham Athletic 0-1 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Humphrys (49);

Attendance; 800 (estimated).

Wigan Athletic (4-2-3-1) --- J. Jones (G); Darikwa, Whatmough, Long, Pearce;  Naylor,  Cousins; Edwards, Keane, Trialist; Wyke; Subs---Amos (G) (for J. Jones), Lloyd (for Darikwa), Carragher (for Whatmough), Trialist (for Long), Robinson (for Pearce ), S. Smith (for Naylor), Power (for Cousins), Aasgaard (for Trialist), Lang (for Keane), Trialist (for Edwards), Humphrys (for Wyke); Tickle (G), McGee, Pinnington, Costello, Trialist;

AFC Fylde (4-4-2) --- Neal (G); Burke, Obi, Whitmore, Conlan; Joyce, Perkins, Osborne, Haughton; Shaw, Sampson; Subs--- Philliskirk (for Burke), Hulme (for Conlan), Nolan (for Joyce), Byrne (for Osborne), Tollitt (for Sampson), B. Jones (G), Robinson, Gregson;

Referee; Not Known;