Eccleshall 0 Wigan Robin Park 1
Vodkat League Division 1
At: Pershall Park
Kick-off: 8-00 pm
Admission: £4; Programme: £1 (32 pages)
Weather: very cold, dry
Attendance: 54
Duration: first-half: 47:42; second-half: 48:44
Newly-appointed manager Peter Hall took charge of Eccleshall for the first time but his side were narrowly unable to give him a winning start against 10-man Wigan Robin Park. The visitors, who had defender Chris Williams sent off just before half-time, scored the only goal of the game early in the second half through Chris McNally and held onto their lead until the final whistle. This was my fourth visit to Pershall Park, the first in 1987 and the second and third both in 2008.I never realised how cold it was until I parked up in the rear car park at Pershall Park and noticed the car thermometer was registering –0.5°C. And the evening got a whole lot colder and by the time the final whistle was blown around 9-45 pm, the pitch had a white crust and temperatures had fallen to around –2.0°C. I suppose we should be thankful the game was on, especially from Eccleshall’s point of view with all the postponements they’ve suffered this season.
Eccleshall (blue and black stripes / black / black): 1. Matthew Holmes, 2. Curt Evans, 3. Liam McKinney, 4. Jack Warren, 5. Alex Hutchinson (capt), 6. Danny Hughes, 7. Adam Jones, 8. Liam Kerrigan, 9. Richard Leech, 10. Mark Hall, 11. Angelo Enrico. Subs: 12. Daniel Counter (for Jones, 75), 14. Jamie Frost (not used), 15. Stephen Forrest (not used), 16. Rob Adlington (not used), 17. Oliver Wright (not used).Wigan Robin Park (yellow/green/yellow): 1. Jay Foulds (capt), 2. Stephen Wallace, 3. Mike Wood, 4. Lee Compton, 5. Chris Williams, 6. Jon Corcoran, 7. Dean Callaway, 8. Andy Nefcy, 9. Paul Vermiglio, 10. Steven Williams, 11. Chris McNally. Subs: 12. Steve Edwards (for Vermiglio, 70), 14. Matt Mason (for McNally, 74), 15. Bradley Greenhough (for Callaway, 86).
Referee: L. Sinclair (Stoke-on-Trent).
Assistants: N. Handley and T. Cook (both Stoke-on-Trent).
Goals:
0-1 Chris McNally (52)
Cards:
Eccleshall: Alex Hutchinson (YC, 18), Mark Hall (YC, 44), Liam McKinney (YC, 69)
Wigan Robin Park: Stephen Wallace (YC, 22), Chris Williams (RC, 42), Steven Williams (YC, 44), Andy Nefcy (YC, 65)
