Latics end their Vertu Trophy Group Stage campaign with a draw at Stockport County

Vertu Trophy Report | Stockport County v Latics
Latics end their Vertu Trophy Group Stage campaign with a draw at Edgeley Park
Dara Costelloe marked his return from suspension with a goal

STOCKPORT COUNTY 1

Corey O'Keeffe 32'

LATICS 1

Dara Costelloe 40'

Attendance: 1,337

Wigan Athletic ended their Vertu Trophy Group Stage campaign with a 1-1 draw at Stockport County.

Dara Costelloe marked his return from suspension with a goal to cancel out Corey O'Keefe's opener, before the Group A tie was suspended for over an hour after the adverse weather conditions made the pitch unplayable.

Thanks to the outstanding work of the hosts' Grounds Team, the Vertu Trophy restarted at 9:20pm, and it finished all square after 90 minutes before Stockport County secured the extra point with a 6-5 penalty shootout win.

Latics concluded their Vertu Trophy Group Stage campaign with a short trip to Edgeley Park, knowing before the game that they needed to record a comprehensive victory to progress into the knockout stages of the competition.

With it being the Club's last match before the November international break, Lowe opted to field a strong starting line-up in an attempt to build positive momentum ahead of their next block of fixtures when action resumes.

The Gaffer has made seven changes from their 1-1 draw at Exeter City, with Toby Savin, Steven Sessegnon, Joe Hungbo, Tobias Brenan, Callum McManaman, Paul Mullin, and Costelloe all being handed starting berths. Captain Jason Kerr, Will Aimson, Luke Robinson, and Jensen Weir were the four players who retained their places from the highly contested fixture in Devon.

For Latics, patience had to be a virtue at the start of the Vertu Trophy encounter. Lowe's men enjoyed plenty of early possession and looked to utilise their threat in wide areas, often going direct to put the Stockport defence under pressure.

With 12 minutes on the clock, Latics were presented with their first opening on the transition. Mullin set it out to Hungbo on the right-hand side, and the winger was given license to roam forward and enter the area, seeing his strike head wide.

McManaman had a further opportunity eight minutes later - the ball fell kindly into his path, and his first time strike was well blocked by O'Keeffe. At the other end, Corey Edwards had two efforts from distance, the second forcing Savin into making a smart save down to his left.

Nathan Lowe had a tame header straight at Savin before the Sky Bet League One leaders broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute. The space opened up for O'Keeffe to come inside and take aim from 25 yards out, and his strike arrowed into the bottom corner beyond the reach of Latics' number 30.

Latics had to respond in the right way, and they restored parity just eight minutes later. Costelloe marked his return to the side from his three-match suspension with a unique goal - his header soared high into the air and was eventually palmed into the back of the net by goalkeeper Corey Addai.

It provided the visitors with a real lift, and Costelloe came close to a second at the start of the second period. The young striker created his own luck inside the area, battling through a congested box to find room for a shot, and his strike was met by an outstanding save.

Costelloe was again involved when he made an intelligent run down the left, and his drilled cross narrowly evaded both Mullin and first-half substitute Fraser Murray.

The heavens then opened at Edgeley Park, with both sides needing to adapt to the torrential conditions in Manchester. Latics almost took the lead two minutes before the hour mark, but Mullin was unable to tap Costelloe's inch-perfect cross home.

The adverse weather was having a real impact on the flow of the game, and after a period of consultation, referee Scott Oldham initially suspended the match for 15 minutes to allow time for the rain to ease off and for the hosts' groundstaff to improve the playing surface.

After an hour's pause, play got back underway at 9:20 pm, and the Hatters almost immediately regained their advantage after the restart. Lewis Fiorini's strike from the edge of the box took a wicked deflection, and despite pedalling backwards, Savin somehow got a strong hand on it to keep it out.

At the other end, Murray beat several defenders on a trademark driving run before releasing Costelloe. who was denied a double by the outstretched arm of Addai. With virtually the last kick of the game, Harrison Bettoni thought he had won it for Latics with his first senior goal when he tapped Raphael's cross in, but the flag was raised for offside.

The Group Stage clash headed to penalties to determine the winner of the extra point, and Stockport edged the shootout after Morgan Fox and Weir failed to score.

Vertu Trophy Report | Stockport County 1 Latics 1 (County win the extra point on penalties)