Mansfield 1 Wigan 2

Last updated : 28 January 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Striker Nathan Ellington rediscovered his scoring touch as Wigan got their championship charge back on track to leave relegation-haunted Mansfield still rooted in the bottom four.

Ellington, who squandered numerous chances, finally ended his five-game goal drought six minutes before half time, racing clear of the offside trap to round the keeper and slot in his 18th goal of the season.

Five minutes later a fine breakaway by Gary Teale created a simple tap in for Andy Liddell, his 12th of the season condemning Mansfield's new manager Keith Curle to his first home defeat.

But the Latics, beaten for the first time in 21 games just four days earlier, had to survive a second-half scare as Mansfield staged a brave fightback.

In the 50th minute Iyseden Christie scrambled in his 16th goal of the season from Andy White's cross to give the Stags hope but when Christie was stretchered off to leave the home side with two 17-year-olds in attack Mansfield rarely looked like pinching a point.

At the other end Ellington struck the post and Lee McCulloch twice went close to securing victory.

The pace of Ellington and Liddell caused numerous problems for the home defence from the opening minutes. Ellington's 20-yard drive was blocked and then his low shot smothered by the busy Stags keeper Kevin Pilkington.

In the tenth minute Ellington twice sprung the offside trap. First his cross from the byline was superbly blocked by Matt Gadsby as Liddell waited to pounce and then the big striker overran the ball to allow Pilkington to save at his feet.

Mansfield, despite forcing five first-half corners, only threatened once in the opening 30 minutes when Christie raced on to White's clever knock down and clipped his shot narrowly wide.

But on the half hour the home side almost shocked the league leaders. First Wigan keeper John Filan saved at the feet of White and then a minute later Christie's shot on the turn was saved by the diving keeper.

But in the 39th minute Ellington at last found the breakthrough to put Wigan on their way.