Report by SJG
FRIENDLY
AFC FYLDE vs WIGAN ATHLETIC
9th July 2019
YOUNG LATICS FALL TO LATE GOAL.
Latics’ senior players given 45 minutes in pre-season clash at AFC Fylde before younger squad took on National League side in the second-half
Danny Rowe scored second-half goal for National League side
Wigan Athletic handed further pre-season minutes to a number of senior players at AFC Fylde on Tuesday night, whilst the club’s younger players impressed in a close-fought second-half with the National League side.
Fylde’s Danny Rowe scored the only goal of the game in the second-half as Latics’ younger players created enough to have won the game in the second-half but either lacked the finish or were denied by an excellent performance from the hosts’ goalkeeper Dan Lavercombe, who is currently training with the Coasters after his spell with Paul Cook’s side came to an end this summer.
Cook named a strong side for the first-half, albeit senior players Josh Windass, Gavin Massey, Jamie Jones, Lee Evans and Joe Garner weren’t involved at Mill Farm.
Latics were in control throughout the first-half with Anthony Pilkington and Michael Jacobs creative throughout, making opportunities for Callum Lang, who led well from the front.
Lang pulled up just after the half hour and his replacement Charlie Jolley had Latics’ best chance of the first-half but he fired wide after being played in by Samy Morsy. Pilkington had earlier had a shot blocked at close range when the ball fell to him kindly eight yards out.
Half Time; AFC Fylde 0-0 Wigan Athletic.
Cook and his staff rotated his side for the second-half and, with the exception of Chey Dunkley, he fielded under-23 and under-18 players, a number of whom have been involved in pre-season training with the senior squad.
Naturally, Fylde – who also made changes – regained some control and Rowe headed wide from and Ash Hemmings cross for the first chance of the second-half.
Jolley then missed a great opportunity after doing well to dispossess Lavercombe but he fired over with his left foot.
Ollie Crankshaw tested Lavercombe twice before Joe Gelhardt offered a number of sights of his potential with some quick feet and intricate play.
However, Fylde got the winner 12 minutes from time as ROWE headed in a cross from James Craigen.
Gelhardt almost got a late leveller but he was denied by an excellent Lavercombe save.
Full Time; AFC Fylde 1-0 Wigan Athletic.
Scorers; Rowe (78);
Attendance; 880
Wigan Athletic--- O. Evans; Byrne, Fox, Kipre, Naismith; Pilkington, Lopes, Morsy, Jacobs; G. Roberts, Lang;
Subs (All featured): J. Jones; Finley, Obi, Dunkley, Golden; Burgess, Weir, Crankshaw, Perry; Gelhardt, Jolley;
AFC Fylde --- Lavercombe; Phillips, Byrne, Burke, Duxberry; Montrose, Bradley, Haughton, Kosylo, Williams, Willoughby;
Subs (All featured): Craigen, Jamieson, Marveggio, Doyle, Robles, Rowe, Hemmings, Croasdale, Yeates, Grogan;
Referee; Mr Leigh Doughty (Blackpool)
Venue: Mill Farm Sports Village
Attendance: 880
Kick Off: 19:45
Referee: Leigh Doughty, Blackpool