Report by SJG

NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE

SOUTH LIVERPOOL vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

16^th August 1969

SOUTH ERRORS GIFT GRATEFUL TICS THE POINTS

South Liverpool never really threatened to upset Wigan and once the opening goal was registered in the 16^th minute with FIELDING fired home. Manager McNeill must have been delighted with the assured debut of ex-Aberdeen centre half Doug Coutts.

Diggle, Watson and Flexon tried hard to fire the home attack into action but Wigans defence was formidable and keeper Reeves was only finally brought into meaningful action in the 85^th minute when a speculative lob by Harrison looked like dipping under the Wigan crossbar until Reeves palmed the effort over and away for a corner.

Half Time; South Liverpool 0-1 Wigan Athletic.

On 50 minutes Latics doubled their lead when a whipped cross from Fielding evaded Scott, Owens and Eales and fell invitingly for SUTHERLAND who bundled the ball home.

Latics continued to defend well and while McNeill may have been happy with their work he must still have concerns over his strikers who looked unlikely to add to the score and it was only poor defending that had offered them the scoring opportunities.

Latics even had time to spurn another penalty kick with McLoughlin firing wide of the goal after he had been upended by Eales in the Liverpool goal, referee McNabb from Burnley had little hesitation in making the award but the miss was not to prove costly.

Full Time; South Liverpool 0-2 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Fielding (16); Sutherland (50);

Attendance; 951

WIGAN ATHLETIC; Reeves; Morris, Gillibrand, Sutherland, Ledgard, Coutts; Hill, Fleming, Fielding; Cairney, McLoughlin; SUB—Savage.

SOUTH LIVERPOOL; Eales; Scott, Owens, Keegan, Reason; Shreeve, Harrison, Diggle; Watson, Flexon, Neiman; SUB—Atherton.

Referee; Mr. J. McNabb (Burnley)