Wigan Robin Park (26-07-2014)

Wigan Robin Park 0 - 2 Morecambe (Friendly), 26th July 2014

Train ticket (Manc-Wigan) = £4-20
i-Paper = 20p
Entrance = £5
Tea = £1
Water = 53p
£11-13

On a scorching hot day in July, I made my way to Wigan's Robin Park Arena for this pre-season friendly against League 2 Morecambe. I could title this blog 'the road to Wigan Pier', but more accurately it could be titled '2 delayed trains and a bus to Wigan'. I was perplexed at first by the fact that Wigan is not on my A-Z of Lancashire, seemingly in the Nether region between Manchester, Lancs and Merseyside. Needless to say the ground was easy to find, being a 20-minute stroll from Wigan North Western and sitting right next to the DW stadium. As I had half expected, the 'Arena' was effectively an athletics stadium with a football pitch in th middle. The ground entrance was through the adjoining leisure centre, where I parted with £5 for this afternoon's entertainment. Though there were no programmes, the welcome ws friendly, with the gent at the turnstile/table directing me up to the tea-bar and seats. Nice welcome! After the customary sit-down and sandwiches, it was just about time for kick-off. Fortunately tthe stand of seats was well-shaded, so I had no fear of getting sunburnt (a rare concern of UK groundhoppers!).

Morecambe had the lions' share of possession in the first half. Number 7 was particularly busy and industrious, working hard to win the ball and taking on the home defence with ease. He had a couple of chances, before a superb curling shot from a fellow midfielder hit the post. Morecambe, unsurprisingly, looked faster, stronger and more organised. Even Robin Park's attempt to shackle them with 5 at the back at times was ineffective. Morecambe took the lead on 30 minutes, when their alert striker (9) slotted in a rebound, after a great run by 7. It could have been more shortly after, when the same player rolled a low shot against the upright, and Morecambe also hit the cross-bar on 34 minutes. Robin Park's main action of the half was when their number 10 fouled an away player, who was then stretchered off.

It may have been the weather, it may have been the fact this was a friendly, but the second-half petered out somewhat. Morecambe still had the best of it, with the active 7 heading at the keeper just after half-time, and their 17 imposing himself on the left wing. Robin Park had a rare half-chance on 57 minutes, when their central midfielder (10) could only toe-poke a loose ball wide. On 76 minutes, Morecambe's 17 scored a deserved second to put the game beyone doubt. There were only a couple more chances of note - a rifled volley from Morecambe's right-back, and a header from Wigan's 11. It hadn't been a classic start to the season, but I was glad to get another ground under my belt.

The journey back to Sheffield proved long and frustrating. First, the 17.09 from Wallgate was cancelled, then the next train from North Western was delayed by 10 minutes. Then, to put the feather in the cap, the East Midlands service from Manchester to Sheffield was delayed by 20 minutes. I finally arrived through the door at 8.40pm. Not really the road to Wigan Pier; more like the road to Timbuktu!