Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs LINCOLN CITY

31^st January 1981

IN-FORM IMPS ARE A CLASS ABOVE.

Buoyed by their excellent result at Aldershot Wigan began the game well and for twenty minutes they looked more than capable of beating the divisions form side, but gradually the neat passing of the visitors began to wrestle control of the game and the Imps began to show why they, under manager Colin Murphy, were being tipped for promotion.

The first half was an even affair but Wigan struggled to test David Felgate in the Lincoln City goal and Lincoln squandered the best chance when Bob Ward fumbled a cross by Hobson and the lively Shipley pounced but in his haste the shot struck Fretwell and when it deflected to Cunningham the tall striker failed to hit the target.

Half time; Wigan Athletic 0-0 Lincoln City.

The vital breakthrough came on 47 minutes and it arrived gift wrapped as the normally reliable Ward again failed to collect what seemed a harmless cross and this time CUNNINGHAM made no mistake with the opportunity.

On the hour mark Keeley whipped in a perfect cross and TURNER stole in to flash a perfectly timed near post header into the roof of the net.

Latics tried to rally but Lincoln had a vice like hold on the game that only weakened slightly when Micky Quinn replaced the ineffective McMullen. The young striker finally brought a save from Felgate as he palmed a shot away and then a glancing header passed narrowly over the Lincoln crossbar.

Full time; Wigan Athletic 0-2 Lincoln City.

Scorers; Cunningham (47), Turner (60);

Attendance; 5,190

Team; WIGAN—B. Ward; Fretwell, McAdam, Methven, Cribley; Urquhart, Wright, Hutchinson, McMullen; Houghton, A Quinn; SUB; M. Quinn (for McMullen)

LINCOLN CITY— Felgate; Thompson, Keeley, Hughes, Peake; Carr, Neale, Turner, Shipley; Hobson, Cunningham; SUB not used; Bell.

Referee; Mr. Telford Mills (Barnsley).

The inquest after the game was uncomfortable with talk of big shake-ups, the home record was particularly concerning, there was a big call for youth to be given a chance.