Cywka and Holt give Latics all three points

WIGAN ATHLETIC RESERVES 2
Cywka 64
Holt 70

BOLTON WANDERERS RESERVES 0

A fantastic result for Graham Barrow as goals from Tomasz Cywka and Joe Holt gave his side a well deserved win in difficult conditions.

As well as being a key fixture in the team's season, the night also gave new-signing Steve Gohouri the chance to make his first appearance in a Wigan Athletic shirt.


DEBUT DELIGHT: A winning start in the Reserves.

Playing the full 90 minutes at centre-half Gohouri came through his first test with flying colours, showing great pace and precision timing in tracking down the ball and winning it back.

Off the ball the defender took up some clever positions and was eager to get hold of possession, push the play up the field and move his defence out; a solid debut from the Ivorian.

To the match itself and the blustery conditions meant neither side were able to take full control during the first-half with few chances being created.

However, coming out for the second 45 minutes, Latics looked sharper, confident and more composed in the final third, and it was shortly after the hour-mark when the breakthrough came.

Latching onto an errant ball across the Bolton defence Cywka, a consistent performer all season and who caused his opposition numerous problems during the game, skipped past the full-back and saw his low shot ricochet off the goalkeeper and into the net to put Latics ahead.

Five minutes later and a fabulous move saw the home side double their lead. Picking the ball up in the centre, Captain Jon Routledge played a precision pass down the right-wing for the on-running Erik Edman. Getting to the by-line the Swede cut-back to Holt 15-yards out to slot home and seal the win.

With that goal the failure of one of Robin Park's floodlights signalled the lights going out on Bolton's chances of getting any kind of result from the game.

From there on it was cruise-control for Barrow's side sweeping the ball round, finding space with ease and threatening to further stretch their lead. Rachid Bouaouzan could have done just that in the final minute, fed through clean on goal but only able to shot against the 'keeper.

Overall a fantastic win accompanied by a fine, professional performance that will no doubt boost the team's confidence going into the second-half of the campaign.

Latics: Nicholls; Edman, McCarten, Gohouri, Mustoe; Routledge, Holt; Cywka, McManaman, Bouaouzan; Kupisz

Subs: Williams, Buxton, Redmond, Rugg, Jukes