TOM Hitchcock capped a fine personal week with a late leveller as Rovers Reserves drew 2-2 with Wigan Athletic at Leigh Sports Village.

After signing his first professional contract on his birthday last Thursday, the 17-year-old grabbed the winner for the under 18s against Stoke City on Saturday, and this Monday evening he then followed that up with his first Reserve appearance, and his first goal to earn a share of the spoils.

In a scrappy encounter, in which Wigan ended the match with ten men, it was Rovers who took the lead when Michael Potts fired home from the edge of the area.

But Wigan hit back immediately, Cywka's centre was pushed out by Jake Kean and Kupisz made no mistake from close range.

The second half was slow to get going as both sides cancelled each other out, but it was visitors Wigan who took the lead when from Rugg's overhead kick Meace's looping header found the back of the net.

Wigan were then reduced to ten men when Buxton saw red for a late challenge on Jason Lowe and Rovers took full advantage of the extra man when substitute Jason Banton crossed for his fellow Academy striker Hitchcock and he fired home.

There was late drama when Joe Holt raced through but Jake Kean saved well with his legs.

After a slow start it was Rovers who had the first chance at goal on eight minutes. An Andy Haworth free-kick was floated in from the right but Julio Santa Cruz didn't get a strong touch on the ball and he glanced his header wide.

At the other end Rovers goalkeeper Jake Kean tipped over a centre from Cywka, whilst Redmond curled an effort just over the bar.

The deadlock was broken on 19 minutes when from a throw on the right, Michael Potts let fly from the edge of the area and the ball crept into the corner of the net.

It was Pott's first Reserve start of the season and his first goal at that level.

But the lead lasted just two minutes, Cywka doing well to get past the close attentions of Marcus Marshall and Michael Hall to cut in from the byline. His centre was pushed out by Kean byt Tomasz Kupisz was on hand to steer the ball home.

There were to be no further goals in a scrappy first half.

Rovers did have the ball in the back of the net just before the hour mark, but Marcus Marshall was ruled offside before his centre saw Julio Santa Cruz head home.

There seemed little threat on either goal as the game entered the final fifteen minutes but it was the visitors who grabbed the winner.

A free-kick was punched clear by Jake Kean only as far as Jordan Rugg, he hit the ball back over his shoulder towards goal where defender Nick Meace found the back of the net with a looping header.

Reserve team boss Iain Brunskill gave Tom Hitchcock and Jason Banton their first outings in the Barclays Premier Reserve League North.

Wigan's indiscipline would prove costly, defender Adam Buxton was shown a straight red card for a late challenge on Jason Lowe.

Then with man advantage they committed another free-kick from which Rovers levelled, ending with the two Academy strikers combining as Banton found Hitchcock in the area and the 17-year-old netted from close range.

In the two previous encounters at Leigh Sports Village there had been late drama, and when Joe Holt raced through for Wigan in the final minute of added time it looked like that was to be the case once again, but Rovers 'keeper Jake Kean saved well with his legs.

ROVERS: Kean, C. O'Connor (sub Ramm 46 mins), Hall, Flynn (c), Gunning, Morrissey, Haworth, Lowe, Santa Cruz (sub Hitchcock 82 mins), Potts, Marshall (sub Banton 82 mins).

Subs not used: Swann, A. O'Connor.

WIGAN: Nicholls, Buxton, Mustoe, Langley, Meace, Routledge (c), Cywka, Lambert (sub Rugg 46 mins), Kupisz (sub Morris 55 mins), Holt, Redmond.

Subs not used: Crane, Williams, Amos.

Booked: Haworth, Gunning (Rovers), Meace (Wigan)

Off: Buxton (Wigan)

Attendance: 491