PNE 1 WIGAN ATHLETIC 4

THIS Lancashire hot-pot reached pantomine proportions as North End quite simply blew it all in a demolition job in the space of two minutes either side of half time.

North End dominated the first half, playing their best football of the season so far and it came as no surprise when they took the lead on 18 minutes when Graham Alexander put over a perfect cross which Steve Basham met with his head. Just before half time, this showstopper became a panto when Ryan Kidd played the ball back to David Lucas, not seeing Wigan's Andy Liddell lurking on the edge of the area.

Liddell got to the ball as Lucas dived to the striker's feet and Liddell went down in a heap for a clear-cut penalty. The ball rolled on into the path of Simon Howarth, leaving him with little more than a tap-in to score and the referee waved play on.

Amazingly, Howarth's shot trickled across goal and beyond the far post out of play and then the referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot and sent Lucas off for the foul of Liddell.

Eyres was sacrificed to allow Moilanen on to the field, but he had no chance as the penalty was clinically taken.

Then, two minutes into the second half Preston committed a howler to gift Wigan another goal, as Gregan played the ball back to Moilanen, who only kicked the ball alongside him to allow Stuart Barlow access to an empty net.

Despite hard work from Preston, Wigan's extra man proved too much as Howarth first scored, followed in the closing minutes by Stuart Barlow, who completed his hat-trick.

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