Report by SJG

LEYLAND DAF TROPHY

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs DONCASTER ROVERS

30^th January 1990 

WOEFUL LATICS EXIT TROPHY.

Wigans progress in this year’s Leyland DAF trophy was halted at the quarter final stage, in atrocious conditions, by Doncaster Rovers of the fourth division.

On a very wet and muddy pitch and amid driving rain Wigans push for Wembley glory was derailed with beanpole striker Phil Daley passing up a number of good chances to score. A fine cross from Dave Thompson on the right created the first real chance but Daley, after cleverly beating his marker, failed to hit the target as he missed his kick. That was a bad miss but Daley was unlucky with his next effort when his well struck drive thudded against the crossbar.  Then, following good work from Tankard down the left flank Daley was again free in-front of goal but again he fluffed his effort.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-0 Doncaster Rovers.

Doncaster seemed to gain heart from the Wigan missed chances and grew into the game as it wore on and then in the 65^th minute the Wigan defence allowed TURNBULL too much room as they backed off and his low shot skidded past Hughes in the Latics goal.

An out of sorts Andy Pilling made way for Jimmy Carberry as Wigan looked for the leveller and the midfield, which had earlier suffered the loss of Parkinson with a head injury now had a patched-up look with a lot being asked of young Rogerson in the engine room of the team.

The change seemed inspired, as the ex-Everton youngster CARBERRY, who had often been the target of the crowd’s ire, fired in a glorious equaliser in the 74^th minute.

The Wigan fans fully expected that their heroes would now go on to claim the expected win against the lower league side, but it was the visitors who seemed to ‘want it more’ and they could easily have grabbed a winner in normal time if it was not for the excellent work of Atherton and Johnson in defence.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 1-1 Doncaster Rovers.

The game went into extra time and turned into a tense affair with both sides attacking as neither seemed to want to face a penalty shoot-out. A low drive by Tankard beat the Rovers keeper but the effort bounced clear off the foot of the post. Then two minutes later a fine move down the right flank by the Yorkshire side ended with a pin point cross and a decisive header from JONES. Wigan tried hard to keep their cup hopes alive but with Rovers running down the clock and with tired legs on the muddy, strength sapping surface they came up short. Rogerson did have one late opportunity but his badly sliced shot summed up Wigans performance and it was Doncaster who kept their own Wembley dream alive.

After extra time; Wigan Athletic 1-2 Doncaster Rovers.

Scorers; Carberry (74); Turnbull (65), Jones (96);

Attendance; 2,742

Teams; WIGAN (4-4-2) --- Hughes; Senior, Tankard, Atherton, Johnson; Ward, Pilling, D. Thompson, Parkinson; B. Griffiths, Daley; Subs; --- Carberry (for Pilling), Rogerson (for Parkinson);

DONCASTER ROVERS (4-4-2) --- Samways; Robinson, Brevett, Turnbull, Ashurst; Douglas, Adams, Stiles, Gaughan; Noteman, Jones; Subs; --- Raffell, McKay;

Referee; Mr John Watson (Whitley Bay)