Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION THREE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs BURY

13^th February 1990

WINDSWEPT LATICS FIRING BLANKS

One of the wildest and windiest nights of the year ruined a match that was vital to both sides for very different reasons. Bury needed three points to close the gap on the play off places, whilst Latics needed the points to ease the pressure building at the other end of the table.

The game ended up being something of a lottery with the gale force wind and torrential rain playing the starring role.

The first half saw Latics coping admirably as they defended against Bury and despite having by far the worst of the elements they arrived at the break with their goal intact, and with Hughes fairly much untroubled.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-0 Bury.

As the second half began the Latics fans fully expected their heroes to be in the ascendancy as the gale was now at their backs and the ‘shoot on sight’ instruction had clearly been issued by the manager at the break.

Despite this it took until the 75^th minute before the home side recorded a shot on target and the 20-yard effort by substitute Griffiths was collected easily enough by Kelly in the Bury goal.

Bury should have grabbed the lead in the 52^nd minute when they were awarded a penalty kick following a mis-timed challenge by young centre half  Alan Johnson on the speedy and elusive David Lee. The diminutive winger was the stand out player and his direct running style eventually paid dividends but Robinson wasted the opportunity with keeper Hughes flinging himself to his left to push the effort to safety. Despite Robinsons miss the visitors from Gigg Lane continued to carve out the better openings as Latics failed to make the best of the conditions.

Daley and Page were starved of any decent supply and the late decision to replace page with combative midfielder Tony Ward did little to aid the attacking efforts.

In the end a draw was probably the right result as neither side showed enough skill and artistry to get the better of the conditions and the brave souls who turned up to cheer on the sides despite the conditions deserve much credit for staying the course.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 0-0 Bury.

Attendance; 2,194

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

BURY (4-4-2) --- Kelly; Hill, Clements, Knill, Valentine; Hoyland, Lee, Parkinson, Patterson; Robinson, Spink; Subs; --- Withe, Hulme (for Spink);

Referee; Mr D. B. Allison (Lancaster)