Mancunia FC 3–0 Wigston FC: the momentum flip

Match report

Look, honestly, the vibes heading into Thursday 6 August suggested Wigston were the ones with the momentum. They arrived for Matchday 12 on the up, while Mancunia had spent the last few outings looking profoundly out of sorts. It was the sort of gap in confidence that usually leads to a nervous first twenty minutes of hopeful sideways passing.

Then Naim Ecevitoğlu decided that was quite enough of that. In the 2nd minute, he found the net in open play, effectively ending the contest before the broadcasters had even finished the introductions. It was a clinical start from a man who has spent the last fortnight reminding everyone why he is a threat.

So here is the thing: Wigston tried to react, but Mancunia just didn't look bothered. They played with the serene detachment of people who know they have already won. By the 25th minute, Stanley Bagshawe doubled the lead, converting a João Vasque assist. It felt inevitable, really. Bagshawe has a knack for these things, though he usually prefers the drama of the 75th minute. To score this early was almost an act of cruelty.

The second half was more of a procession than a match. In the 52nd minute, the roles reversed as Bagshawe turned provider for João Vasque. That third goal was the final nail, shifting the game from a comfortable win to a total dismantling. It was the sort of performance that makes a manager look like a tactical genius, even if the plan was simply to score three goals and hope the other lot didn't notice.

Wigston will be wondering where it all went wrong, though they likely spent most of the afternoon staring at the grass. It was a professional, if slightly boring, display of dominance from Mancunia, who managed to rediscover their form exactly when the table required it.

They will have very little time to celebrate the three points, as Matchday 13 arrives tomorrow.