Our third game in preseason brought a third successive 2-1 scoreline, with Dale coming out victorious over an injury hit Wigan side.
it was a decent workout for two footballing sides, despite the presence of Graham Barrow on the sidelines, with Dale coming away as the winners. All three goals in the game were impressive, as was the pitch which showed no signs of the monsoon conditions of the previous twelve hours.
The first goal was a reminder of just how fantastic Ian Henderson is. Did we need a reminder? Probably not, but it's always good to have one. With the ref playing a great advantage after a foul on Scott Tanser, a long ball up front saw Hendo twist his way past the Wigan centre half leaving him slumped on the floor before delicately chipping the keeper from an angle so tight it looked almost impossible.
The visitors came back into the game and they had the bulk of possession in the remainder of the half. In all fairness, they probably should have equalised on a couple of occasions, but it was Dale that doubled the lead.
The boy Bastien was something of an enigma last season. Limited to the odd cameo here and there, his introduction at the back end of the season was just the boost we needed to secure promotion, but it looks for all the world that Hery will be a consistent presence in the Dale side in 2014-15.
Having stolen the ball off a Wigan player, he played a 1-2 with Donnelly before steering it past the keeper. We had no dance tho in celebration.
The best of the goals came just before the break and came from Wigan's recent signing from Newcastle. James Tavernier let fly from about thirty odd yards squeezing just over the tip of an outstretched Josh Lillis. Great goal.
The second half was odd. It started with long periods of Wigan possession in our half without really threatening, before a flurry of subs saw Dale come back into it with great chances from Joe Bunney and Callum Camps.
As a side show to the game, we had the return of Grant Holt to Spotland. Despite training with the youth team in preseason, he was given a ninety minute run out by Uwe Rosler. He was handled well by Scott Tanser, but with time running out in the game he was the target for the Wigan boo boys who made abusive comments about his weight.
Another good run out, and the new formation showed further glimpses of coming together.