Hibs’ on-loan defender Tom James scored a contender for ‘goal of the season’ yesterday as he helped Wigan Athletic to a 2-1 victory away to Portsmouth.
Wigan took the lead six minutes before half-time when Lee Evans fired home from 12 yards after a scramble in the penalty area.
In the 59th minute, the Latics were awarded a free-kick 30-yards from goal. The right full back stepped up and fired an unstoppable strike which seemingly gathered pace and left the Pompey goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray helpless, much to the delight of the travelling support.
Portsmouth grabbed a lifeline a minute from the end of normal time when substitute Ellis Harrison scored from John Marquis’ nod down.
Speaking on Latics TV after the final whistle James said: “It is one of those things that I have been practicing for years now – probably about four or five years – and I scored a few of them when I was at Yeovil. Any time that it is 30 or 35 yards out then I feel confident with it.
“It was a massive win; getting points on the board [was massive]. We knew in the last couple of games we have been good enough to win but it didn’t happen so getting the points today is massive.
“We’re a little disappointed to concede but it is three points and we head back up north.”
“Fitness has come with the games I am playing and in the first game I was probably a little bit hesitant to go forwards and do the kind of things I want to do but game by game I have been getting fitter and stronger and I will be able to do more.
“The game against Liverpool was against the 21s but it is good to get that winning mentality and it is good to take it into the next game with a great result here – winning away from home is always a bonus so hopefully we take that into the next game and get a little run going.
“It is a really tight-knit group; that is one of the things I noticed on the first day. They have welcomed me in straight away. I thought Nath [Cameron] and Foxy [Danny Fox] were unreal at the back, chucking their bodies on the line and that helped us get the win.”
Elsewhere former Hibs’ midfielder Josh Vela scored for Shrewsbury Town in their 1-1 draw with Plymouth Town.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
