Friendly - Saturday 6th August 1983
KETTERING TOWN
1
- Eddie McGoldrick 77, pen
1
WIGAN ATHLETIC
1
- Steve Taylor 84
Report by SJG
FRIENDLY
KETTERING TOWN vs WIGAN ATHLETIC
6th August 1983
TAYLOR OFF THE MARK.
Wigans pre-season campaign started with a well contested draw against Kettering of the Alliance Premier League at their Rockingham Road ground.
The game saw Wigans new striker Steve Taylor lining up against a previous hero of the Latics fans, Les Bradd.
Wigan played a strong line up and the game was a good workout for the team and no doubt a welcome change from the hard slog of pre-season fitness sessions.
The first half was typical pre-season friendly fare as both sides moved the ball well on the pristine surface, but both sides lacked that sharpness in front of goal and defences dominated.
Kettering did find the net in the 20th minute when Frank Murphy got the wrong side of his marker and slotted home but the linesman ruled the effort out for offside.
Half Time; Kettering Town 0-0 Wigan Athletic.
Both sides made a number of changes and Lowe had an excellent opportunity to give Wigan the lead in the 75th minute but he screwed his shot wide of the target.
The miss looked like being costly as two minutes later the hosts took the lead when referee Mr G. Brazier, pointed to the spot following a goalmouth melee as he decided that Williams had committed an offence. Promising young full back MCGOLDRICK stepped up to fire past Kilner (who had replaced Tunks at half-time).
The crowd of around 600 cheered as a shock win against league opposition looked to be on the cards but Steve TAYLOR popped up in the 84th minute to finish a nice move and restore parity to the affair and record his first goal since his move from Burnley on the 1st August.
Les Bradd led the line well for his new club but his old team mates kept close watch and managed to deny him any real scoring opportunities.
Full Time; Kettering Town 1-1 Wigan Athletic.
Scorers; McGoldrick (77, pen); Taylor (84);
Attendance; 600 (est).
Teams; WIGAN— Tunks; Cribley, Comstive, Walsh, Methven; Barrow, Bruce, Lowe, Langley; Houghton, Taylor. Subs: --- Kilner (for Tunks), Butler (for Cribley), Williams (for Houghton);
KETTERING TOWN --- Humphries; McGoldrick, Mann, Palmer, Chamberlain; Pownall, Bartlett, Duggan, Beavon; Bradd, Murphy; Subs: --- Denyer (for Bartlett), Hoffbauer (for Duggan), Masson (for Denyer);
Referee; Mr. G. Brazier (Northampton).
Venue: Rockingham Road
Attendance: 600
Kick Off: 15:00
Referee: Mr. Geoff Brazier, Northampton