Wigan Athletic 2 Wycombe Wanderers 1

Nationwide League Division Two

Skipper Stuart Balmer made amends for a costly first-half gaffe to head unbeaten Wigan to a 2-1 home win over Wycombe and back to the top of the Second Division. The big defender converted an expertly flighted corner from Roberto Martinez in the 61st minute to seal the points for John Benson's side. The goal left Balmer a relieved man because it was his 26th minute blunder that gave Wycombe the lead when he headed a through ball past his own keeper Derek Stillie into the path of Jermaine McSporran who fired into an unguarded net. Wigan shook off their lethargy when Stuart Barlow equalised three minutes before the break when he headed a Scott Green cross past Wycombe keeper Martin Taylor for his 18th goal of the season to become the country's joint leading scorer alongside England captain Alan Shearer. But Wigan made heavy weather of the win against a Wycombe side who showed few ill effects from their inconclusive FA Cup tie against Oxford City on Tuesday night. Wigan never really found their rhythm in a game which saw referee Trevor Parkes hand out seven yellow cards. Even after Balmer's strike Wigan lived dangerously with the lively McSporran twice coming close before midfielder Michael O'Neill came to their rescue when he headed a Sean Devine header off the line from a corner leaving Stillie to punch clear.

WIGAN ATHLETIC :
Stillie, Green, Sharp (Haworth 45), McGibbon, Balmer, de Zeeuw, O'Neill , Kilford, Martinez, Liddell, Barlow

Subs not used: Jones, McLaughlin, Sheridan, Griffiths

Scorers: Barlow (42) Balmer (61)

Bookings: Martinez (52,) Kilford (74), Balmer (76), Green (81), McGibbon (85)

WYCOMBE WANDERERS:
Taylor, Lawrence (Senda 75), Bates, Cousins, Beeton, Simpson, Brown, Emblen (Harkin 83), Devine, McSporran, Rogers

Subs not used: Bulman, Vinnicombe, Osborn

Scorer: McSporran (26)

Bookings: Brown (55), Emblen (81)

And how Wycombe saw it...

Wigan Athletic v WYCOMBE

Friday 12th November Division Two

Wycombe ended a hectic week with the Friday night trip to second placed Wigan Athletic but came away with nothing. It was Wycombe's first ever visit to the JJB stadium and was a real test for Lawrie Sanchez's injury hit squad. Andy Baird was the latest casualty to join Dave Carroll and Paul McCarthy on the sick list after picking up a groin strain in the midweek game against Oxford City.
Wycombe took the lead on 28 minutes after a mix-up in the Wigan defence between Stuart Balmer and Latics second choice 'keeper Derek Stillie alllowing Jermaine McSporran to nip in and slot home. Wycombe held onto the lead until two minutes before the break when Paul Emblen gave the ball away in midfield and allowed Stuart Barlow to score. Wigan have yet to lose in the League this season after just missing out on promotion last term.
Before Friday their home form had seen them drop just two points from a possible 21 and concede only three goals. After the break the introduction of the Latics big striker Simon Haworth immediately caused problems for Wycombe. The winning goal on 61 minutes was hotly disputed by Wycombe after Balmer looked to have climbed over Cousins to head home a corner. Wycombe responded well and McSporran had good chance after a one-two with Simpson but his first touch let him down and the 'keeper gathered. Minutes later Devine saw a header cleared off the line by Michael O'Neill. Lawrie Sanchez made a brave substitution on 75 minutes when he brought on the diminutive Danny Senda for Matt Lawrence but the gamble didn't pay off and despite the performance being gutsy The Wanderers came away pointless.
The two sides could be meeting again next Saturday in the FA Cup Second Round should Wycombe finally manage to shake off the threat of Oxford City.

Final Score Wigan 2 Wycombe 1

Wycombe Team: Taylor, Lawrence (sub 75 Senda), Beeton, Cousins, Bates, Rogers, Brown, Emblen (sub 83 Harkin), Simpson, McSporran, Devine subs Bulman, Vinnicombe, Osborn.

Taken from the Chairboys On The Net website