Latics continued their build up with a friendly match against Northwich Victoria at Wincham Park, the home of Witton Albion. An early chance fell to Fitz Hall but his header went wide just before the Latics took the lead through Lee Duxbury (pictured) after being put through by Paul Murray. It could have been 0-2 after Tony Carss headed goalwards but Gibson, the Northwich keeper, made a good save. A mix up in the Latics defence brought Northwich an equaliser after Beharall misjudged a header and left Miskelly stranded. Blundell was left with the easiest of chances.
It was 2-1 to the home side with 20 minutes gone when Owen ran at the Latics defence and they backed off sufficiently for him to have a go at goal. Miskelly got his fingertips to the low shot he couldn't prevent it going in off the post. Corazzin almost equalised 15 minutes later but Gibson pushed his goalbound header onto the post.
John Sheridan made his comeback when he was one of four half-time replacements. Les Pogliacomi took over in goal from Miskelly and Wayne Andrews and Royce Brownlee replaced Corazzin and trialist Dahl Douglas. Chances in the second half were few and far between and the Latics found the going hard. They tried to spark up the team by introducing Will Haining and Adam Griffin in place of Matt Appleby and David Eyres but with little effect.
Brownlee headed wide at the near post after a Haining cross and then saw his shot go just wide after a Sheridan pass. A Murray header from an Adam Griffin cross near the end was again saved before Brownlee again headed wide. Former Latics player David McNiven almost made it 3-1 for Northwich in the last few seconds but he watched his effort go over the bar.