Latics finish bottom as Tranmere win Masters

Tranmere Rovers won the Merseyside masters tournament at the Liverpool Echo Arena last night in an exciting competition that saw Wigan Athletic finish bottom of the group table when they were arguably the best side there.

Latics first game saw them up against pre-tournament favourites Liverpool and within three minutes Neil Refearn and David Lowe had put the blues two - nil up.

A wicked deflection and poor concentration at the back saw Liverpool get to 2-2 by half time.

In the second half Latics hit the bar twice and post once but fell to defeat by 4-3 although Colin Greenall scored an absolute screamer.

In their 2nd game the Latics faced Everton who had Kevin Langley and Warren Aspinall in their side.

Once again Latics raced into a lead with good work by Redfearn scoring a spectacular goal, Andy Lyons had a goal disallowed for handball when it was clearly knocked in by his chest and then the referee, Mr Lodge, gave an outrageous penalty after Warren Aspinall had been tripped by an imaginary player, there were reports of ground shake as far away as Golborne following Aspinall hitting the deck.

Latics once again suffered from bad luck or poor finishing hitting the woodwork on three occasions before once again losing 4-3.

In the final game of the group stage Latics needed to beat a Tranmere side that had ex-Latics players Stuart Barlow and Ged Brannan in it, by 4 clear goals to progress to the final

Neil Redfearn once again gave the Latics hope with a rocket into the top corner, but despite the majority of possession Latics couldn`t build on this and Kenny Irons knocked in a break-away equaliser in the final minute of the game, result 1-1 and Latics finished bottom of the group

Tranmere Rovers, in their first ever Masters beat Liverpool in the final and now go through to the Grand Finals in London in September, Vital Wigan wishes them good luck.

For the record here is the Wigan Athletic squad from last night:

Tony Pennock (GK) - John Doolan - Alan Kennedy - Pat McGibbon - Peter Atherton - Neil Redfearn - David Lowe - Andy Lyons - Colin Greenhall

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