Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION THREE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs EXETER CITY

6^th September 1983

A TALE OF TWO PENALTIES.

The Grecians picked up their first point of the season with a fortuitous draw at Springfield Park. The point was scarcely warranted as Wigan dominated the game and would have claimed the win if it was not for the excellent Len Bond in the visitor’s goal.

Little was seen of Exeter as an attacking force in the first half but ironically they did pass up the chance to take the lead in the 11^th minute when striker Neville headed tamely straight into the hands of Tunks after a Tony Dennis cross had picked out his forward run into the Latics penalty area.

Exeter resisted a number of frenzied Wigan attacks and a number of goalmouth scrambles somehow failed to produce the opening goal. Finally, in the 37^th minute a Methven header was handled on the goal-line and ex-Burnley striker TAYLOR planted the kick beyond Bond to give Wigan the lead.

Wigan pushed hard to add to their tally before the break but Bond produced a string of fine stops to keep the Wigan forward line at bay.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 1-0 Exeter City.

After the break Exeter began to show more appetite for the game and despite a number of bookings for over zealous tackles they did create a number of opportunities as Tunks again denied Neville with a smart save. Wigan continued to press forward and they continued to have the better of the exchanges so it was against the run of play when Kellow tricked his way past Comstive and when the Wigan man mistimed his tackle the referee awarded a spot kick that MCEWAN drilled home. The goal seemed to rattle Wigan who could easily have conceded again two minutes later but Neville screwed his shot wide after a looped cross landed kindly at the diminutive striker’s feet.

Wigan regained the ascendancy as Exeter began to sit deeper in defence and Bond was in action again as he saved from Bruce and Taylor, before, in the dying minutes he produced a marvellous effort to deny a looping header by Barrow.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 1-1 Exeter City.

Scorers; Taylor (37, pen); McEwan (73, pen);

Attendance; 2,569.

Teams; WIGAN— Tunks; Cribley, Comstive, Walsh, Methven; Langley, Bruce, Barrow, Butler; Lowe, Taylor. Sub not used: --- Houghton.

EXETER CITY --- Bond; Kirkup, Viney, Harle, McEwan; Evans, Rogers, Francis, Dennis; Neville, Kellow; Sub: --- Ling (for Rogers);

Referee; Mr. George M. Tyson (Sunderland).