Report by SJG

EFL (VERTU) TROPHY

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs SALFORD CITY 

GROUP STAGE

 2^nd September 2025

UNBEATEN HOME RUN ENDS AS YOUTHFUL TICS COME UP SHORT.

On a night where 14 Academy graduates featured and nine youngsters made their professional debuts, second-half goals from Oliver Turton and Cole Stockton handed Salford City of League Two the victory at the Brick Community Stadium.

It was the first ever fixture between the two sides and head coach Ryan Lowe opted to provide young players with an opportunity to shine, naming 16 Academy graduates in the matchday squad, with nine of those in the starting XI.

It was a proud night for Jack Rogers, reigning Michael Millett Academy Player of the Year Harrison Rimmer, and Christy Edwards, who made their first team debuts for the Latics. Leo Graham also came in for his first senior start, having made his professional bow in Latics’ Carabao Cup win over Notts County.

In a fast-paced start, Tom Watson made an incredible save early on to deny Nicolás Siri by palming the attacker's effort high and catching the second ball.

Neither side was creating any clear cut chances and the main threats were from se plays and defensive passing errors. Sessegnon was called on to show his defensive prowess, sliding into the path of Kyrell Malcolm's shot to deflect it wide. The resulting corner ball was headed to safety as Sessegnon got high above the City attackers to get the perfect connection to a clearing header.

Asamoah had the Tics' first chance, running onto a Harrison Rimmer flick but his curling strike was well collected by Mark Howard in the Salford goal. Baba Adeeko then threaded a beautiful ball through the packed midfield straight to Edwards on the right flank. The debutant drove into the final third, dancing past the City back line but his fierce shot was poorly directed and was well held by Howard. Leo Graham, who had been booked early for an impetuous tackle, robbed possession on the halfway line, turning his marker inside out and breaking at pace before laying it on a plate for Edwards, whose power header looped just over the bar.

Salford looked dangerous in attack with ex-Liverpool man Ben Woodburn pulling the strings with a fine array of passes. Watson did exceptionally well to deny the tricky winger Macolm the opener as he dove to his left to push the ball onto the post which allowed the defence to clean up the rebound.

The final chance of the half was a cross from Oliver Turton, which played Josh Austerfield into space but his headed effort was not enough to trouble the excellent Watson.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-0 Salford City.

The visitors broke the deadlock just minutes after the restart. Ben Woodburn floated his edge-of-the-box free kick deep into the box, with the ball headed across the goal line where TURTON lay in wait to poke it beyond Watson.

Latics were quick to respond, with Asamoah, whose pace was a real problem for the defenders, breaking on the counter and hammering his one-on-one chance straight into the chest of Howard. The visitors looked a constant threat and dominated possession with the home side having only a few half-chances that amounted to nothing, yet they looked sharp and promising in attack. Substitute Greenhalgh almost levelled the scoring with a dipping header following a corner kick but Howard was able to scramble across his goal to snuff out the danger.

Salford finally doubled their lead from a deep cross with Cole Stockton out muscling his marker and firing home past the outstretched Watson.

Wigan will look to take the positives from the performance with so many youngsters gaining valuable experience, but Salford deserved the victory and both sides will now look to regroup ready for the upcoming league matches.

Full Time: Wigan Athletic 0-2 Salford City.

Scorers; Turton (49), Stockton (80);

Attendance;

Wigan Athletic (3-5-2) --- Watson; C. Edwards, Weir, Rogers; Adeeko, Brenan, Graham, McManaman, Sessegnon; Rimmer, Asamoah; Subs--- Corran(G), Hughes (for Edwards), Bettoni (for Adeeko), Greenhalgh (for McManaman), Knott (for Sessegnon), Jones (for Rimmer), Bolland.

Salford City (3-4-1-2) ---- Howard; Turton, Rose, Cooper; Malcolm, Butcher, Austerfield, Burkoe; Woodburn; Siri, Bird; Subs--- Edwards (G), Mnoga (for Rose), Cesay (for Butcher), Garbutt (for Berkoe), Grant (for Woodburn), Stockton (for Siri).

Referee; Mr. Richard Eley (Derby).