Central League Cup action
United had what manager Graham Kavanagh described as a 'very good workout' on Tuesday afternoon when they travelled to face Wigan in the latest round robin fixture of the Central League Cup.
3 mins – Wigan started brightly and a one-two between Antelmi and Redmond left Phillips with space to shoot. Paul Reid scampered across to make a vital block.
6 mins – Dempsey took control in midfield and clipped a lovely ball into the box. Byrne was in space but he misjudged the flight and headed wide.
10 mins – Symington worked hard to recover an overhit pass and his cross somehow made its way through to Patrick Brough. He went for glory and rattled his shot over the bar.
14 mins - Symington scampered to reach a through ball and his cross fell nicely for Young. He rose well to meet it but his header, under pressure, was eventually cleared.
17 mins - Wigan attacked in numbers with Antelmi and Buxton in close attendance. Thirlwell and Reid held their shape and cleared the danger as Redmond tried to find a way through.
19 mins – The Latics won a free kick on the left flank and United struggled to clear as the ball took two wicked deflections. Rob Kiernan said thank you very much as he swept it into the back of the net from close range.
20 mins – The hosts should have doubled their lead when Phillips sent Buxton into the area. He switched feet and pulled his shot well wide.
23 mins – Buxton was the danger man again as he bullied his way into the box and went shoulder to shoulder with Young. The ref waved play on as both players hit the floor.
25 mins – Byrne did the hard work as he held the ball up and Brough was there to help out. His low cross invited Byrne to finish things off but it took a horrible bounce and the striker swung his boot at thin air.
27 mins – It was better from Carlisle and Reid was a whisker away from getting to a deep Symington free kick when he made a late run and left his marker for dead.
34 mins – Carlisle won a corner from nothing and it was almost costly for the home side as Reid found a yard at the back stick. He met the awkwardly dropping ball on the volley and was disappointed to see his effort smash against the outside of the post.
40 mins – The Latics slowed the game down in midfield as United worked hard to make things happen.
45 mins – A superb piece of hold up play from Derek Riordan allowed him to spin his man and send the ball into the box. Sam Byrne timed his leap beautifully to head it past the keeper and into the bottom corner.
49 mins – Riordan twisted and turned and earned a corner which Young swung into the box. Riordan then followed up on the half clearance but was immediately flagged for offside.
50 mins – Thomson slid in for a dangerous tackle on the edge of his area and Kiernan went close when he thundered the wind assisted 20-yarder an inch over the target.
56 mins – A long ball over the top found Redmond and Antelmi onside but it wouldn’t sit right as the pair had hurried shots blocked.
59 mins – Chisholm sliced Buxton to the floor as he threatened to burst clear but Redmond put too much on the set piece and popped it high into the sky.
63 mins – A quickly taken United free kick caught Wigan napping as Guy played Thomson in for the cross. Byrne tried to finish it off but Wilson did enough to scramble it away.
64 mins - Ryan Jennings finished beautifully as the Latics broke at pace, and his dummied shot left Thomson on the floor and him with time on his hands. He left Bouzanis with no chance as he squeezed it into the bottom corner.
72 mins – The home side kept possession after the goal and chances were limited as the play stayed in midfield.
78 mins – Wonderful skill from Jennings took him away on the left flank and the corner, delivered by the same player, needed just a touch to take it into the goal. Antelmi and Redmond missed it as they raced in and it skipped away to safety.
83 mins – Young had to drop deep to cover as Wigan pushed forward in numbers and his last ditch challenge was very much needed as Redmond shaped to shoot.
84 mins – Kiernan drilled another poor free kick high into the sky from 20 yards.
86 mins – Young did the same at the other end as he tried to find the far post.
90 mins – Riordan fizzed a superb free kick into the mix but Wigan survived as they scrambled the ball clear.
+++++++
Wigan – Mulby, Buxton (Waldron 62), Garcia, Kiernan, Wilson, Meadows, Phillips, Ainscough (Poole 80), Antelmi, Redmond, Jennings (Cosgrove 87). Subs – Flores.
United – Bouzanis, Thomson, Thirlwell (Marshall 46), Reid, Brough, Symington, Dempsey (Chisholm 46), Guy, Young, Riordan, Byrne. Subs – Brass, Hammell, Elliott.
