HYDE UNITED 0, WIGAN ATHLETIC 3
Manager Nick Spooner is not concerned by back-to-back defeats for Hyde United in their opening two pre-season friendlies against Stockport Town and Wigan Athletic.
It was another case of looking at trialists and experimenting in readiness for the new Northern Premier League campaign.
“It is early days, but we are getting there,” explained Spooner after his side was beaten by what was effectively Wigan Athletic U21s.
With seven further friendlies to play, there is still plenty of time for Spooner to finalise his side for the league season which is still one month from kicking off.
Wigan’s youngsters did, however, provide Hyde with a lesson in finishing with three clinical strikes whereas Hyde lacked a cutting edge in the final third of the pitch.
It had been earmarked as a first-team friendly for Latics only for it to switch at short notice after the senior side hurriedly arranged a game against Liverpool the previous night.
Wigan had four trialists in their starting line-up and Hyde one who appeared in central midfield.
The Tigers handed a debut to new signing Adam Dawson who played at Bamber Bridge last season.
The right-sided Dawson, 29, who was once on the books of both Wigan and Leicester City, has considerable experience at National League level.
In an opening period of few chances, Eddie Brown went close for Hyde as his drive was tipped over by goalkeeper Sam Tickle.
Hyde were undone by goals either side of half-time which were carbon copies of one another.
They fell behind in the 43rd minute when a cut back from the left by-line was met by a trialist who fired into the roof of the net.
Wigan made it 2-0 within one minute of the restart when the ball was pulled back from the right by-line for Josh Stones, 18, recently signed from non-league Guiseley, to find the net with a similar shot.
A trialist struck the upright moments later after Hyde failed to clear a high ball into the penalty area.
Wigan scored a third in the 54th minute when a trialist found the net with a screamer, a 25-yard drive which gave goalkeeper James Chew no chance.
Hyde made seven substitutions, who included five further trialists, and in fairness they kept battling.
Indeed, they were unlucky not to get onto the scoresheet after twice striking the Wigan woodwork in the last 12 minutes.
Substitute Chinedu Uche, once of Oldham Athletic, headed against the upright from a long throw by Javid Swaby-Neavin and then in the last-minute Harry Pratt set up a trialist who fiercely struck shot struck the angle of upright and crossbar.