Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION THREE

BOURNEMOUTH vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

10^th September 1983

HOUGHTON GIVES LATICS LIFT-OFF WITH FINE WIN ON SOUTH COAST.

Wigan recorded their first win of the season and it was fully deserved as Bournemouth, managed by Don Megson never really got out of the starting blocks.

Houghton replaced Bruce in the starting XI as McNally tried to introduce more pace and penetration to the forward line.

The Cherries had still to record a point in the League and the locals were quickly restless as Wigan started well and dominated proceedings.

Wigan’s 18-year-old starlet David Lowe took the plaudits as he justified the £100,000 tag placed on him by the manager. Lowe provided the pinpoint cross on 35 minutes that allowed HOUGHTON to head home what proved to be the winning goal.

Latics were by far the busier side and the home side failed to test Tunks in the first half.

Half Time; Bournemouth 0-1 Wigan Athletic.

Morgan had been Bournemouth’s most prominent player and he finally tested Tunks just after the hour mark with a rising drive from fully 30 yards that the Latics shot stopper pushed away for a corner. The home side had key defender Brignull back after injury but Lowe, Houghton and Taylor were causing constant problems for the defenders. Latics failed to add to the single goal and as a result they found themselves hanging on in the closing stages and Ian Thompson had a great chance to level the scores after Morgan slipped a neat pass through the Wigan back line but his hurried shot from point blank range was wide of the target.

If Bournemouth had scored it would have been tough on Latics who had defended well and in so doing had recorded their first win of the new season.

Full Time; Bournemouth 0-1 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Houghton (35);

Attendance; 3,161.

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

BOURNEMOUTH--- Ramsbottam; Nightingale, Sulley, Brignull, M. Thompson; Beck, Williams, Graham, Duffield; Morgan, I. Thompson; Sub: --- Shaw (for Nightingale).

Referee; Mr. A. N. Buksh (London).