Well I arrived just as kick-off commenced at 7pm, I thought it was 7.15pm but no harm done.
With a video man on one of the dugouts the Latics XI were playing in the black away kit of years gone by against the Golbornevets XI.
The Latics keeper who I didn’t recognise made two cracking saves early doors tipping decent efforts over the bar when just after the ¼ hour mark Neil Rimmer “passed” the ball into the net for a well taken goal after neat but has to be said slow build up play.
Graeme Jones then missed a gilt edged chance shooting straight at the keeper but made up for it moments later with a good finish after thirty minutes.
Then Macca at full back finished off a flowing move to make it 3-0 and just afore the goal Roberto arrived in the packed car park.
Rumour on the terrace was a jobworths wouldn’t let him in & eventually a Premiership boss was allowed onto the ground!
Literally 100’s of photos, autographs & handshakes later Roberto made it to the sanctuary of the clubhouse to get changed for the 2nd half.
He came out to warm applause, more photos, handshakes and autographs and eventually got onto the turf, from what I could make out Kevin Langley had made way for him.
It didn’t start well for the Latics boss as Golborne got a deserved goal straight away in the second period with a well worked move, 15minutes the comeback was on and the Golborne number 14 slotted in a second, Roberto now had a game on his hands.
This stung the Latics Legends back into life and as Peter Atherton shored up the defence Roberto started to make the midfield tick with Neil Rimmer all over the park.
Neil got his second with a well placed shot into the corner after the Golborne keeper had made several competent saves beforehand.
Then what the whole crowd had hoped for as Roberto exchanged neat passes on the edge of the box, carried it forward and shimmied his way past two defenders with great ball control and neatly slotted past a bemused keeper, 5-2 to the Latics XI and that is how it finished.
The Spaniard had turned back the years and from what I could tell everyone was delighted that he had turned up to support the event but also took a very active part in the proceedings.
I guesstimate the crowd was between 450 -650 on a very cold evening and it was was good to see a lot of Wigan Athletic supporters in the crowd.
More photographs here ….. http://www.thisnorthernsoul.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=8581.15
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