Report by SJG

FRIENDLY

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs PORT VALE

18^th July 2026

A LOT OF WORK REQUIRED BEFORE THE BIG KICK-OFF.

A Rhys Walters brace and a second-half goal from a trialist helped the Valiants to victory against Latics as pre-season preparations continued at the Brick Community Stadium. 

The newly laid pitch and repainted stands looked resplendent and Wigan, decked in their new kit began brightly enough as they passed the ball about with confidence but little penetration. The visitors fashioned the first proper attack of the game in the 6th minute when Headley broke down the left side before hanging up a cross that was just out of reach of the incoming striker Mo Faal.                      

Port Vale went ahead in the 14^th minute when Headley received the ball on the edge of the area before finding Hernandez down the right side. The winger checked inside before finding WALTERS on the edge of the area, who found the far corner with a precise curled finish. Hernandez was then heavily involved in another good Vale move as he got to the byline and flashed a ball across the face of goal where Lynch was only inches away from turning the ball home.

Wigan continued to move the ball well and in the 23^rd minute Max Power tried his luck from the edge of the area, but his low strike whistled past the post. Wigan were now pressing forward, and a good spell of pressure saw several corners being won and when a clearance fell to Hindolo Mustapha he curled a long-range effort over the Vale crossbar.         

WALTERS doubled his, and his side's, tally three minutes before the break. A corner from the right was cleared as far as the Vale midfielder, who struck a low effort towards goal which seemed to bobble over Joe Walsh, who was making his debut in Latics colours, and nestle in the back of the net.

Latics tried to respond and a good move down the left saw Murray crossing for Perkins to nip in and fire home, but the linesman had raised his flag to indicate that the run was made fractionally early.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-2 Port Vale.

Port Vale made several changes at half-time, and Latics also brought on a fresh face with Higgins replacing Mustapha. Latics looked to up the pressure and played at a faster tempo but seven minutes after the break a quick counterattack saw Lynch outmuscle his marker before crossing to a TRIALIST, who found the bottom corner with a composed first-time volley.

On the hour mark Caldwell made wholesale changes and the new intake immediately looked more penetrative down the left with Fox and Hungbo linking well and producing several crosses that caused concern in the Vale defence.

Wigan pulled a goal back twenty minutes from time when another cross from the left was cleared only as far as Harrison RIMMER, who headed home from close range.

The Vale keeper, Terry, was forced into action four minutes later as he made an excellent reflex save. Costelloe found space in the box and his close-range effort was blocked by the keeper who spread himself quickly and made a good save with his legs. Terry made another good save ten minutes from time when he moved quickly to tip a free kick over the bar as it looked destined for the top corner.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 1-3 Port Vale.

Scorers; Rimmer (72); Waters (14), (42), Trialist (53).

Attendance; 2,000 (Est).

WIGAN (3-4-2-1) – Walsh (G); Carragher, Mellish, Barrett; Murray, Weir, Power, Trialist; Mustapha, Sze; Perkins. Subs; Watson (G) (for Walsh), Bolland (for Carragher), Fox (for Barrett), Chilokoa-Mullen (for Mellish), Marni-Miller (for Murray), Brennan (for Weir), Darcy (for Power), Higgins (for Mustapha), Hungbo (for Sze), Costelloe (for Perkins), Rimmer (for Trialist).

PORT VALE (5-3-2) – Smith (G); Humphrreys, Byers, Headley, Gabriel, Gordon; Faal, Hernandez, Lynch; Walters, Trialist. Subs; Terry (G, for Smith), Hall (for Humphreys), Byers (for Croasdale), Shorrock (for Headley), John (for Gabriel), Trialist (for Gordon), Trialist (for Faal), Orisakwe (for Hernandez), Lake (for Lynch), Bussell (for Walters), Moon (for Trialist).

Referee; Mr. Lewis Smith (Lancashire).