Report by SJG

NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE

 WIGAN ATHLETIC vs BRADFORD PARK AVENUE

19^th August 1970

PARK AVENUE BLOWN AWAY BY DAVIES TREBLE.

Bradford Park Avenue had lost their Football League status in the close season and were finding it difficult to adjust to life in the Northern Premier League.  A surprise home defeat in the opening game against Netherfield had not improved the morale within the camp and they were well beaten by a Wigan side that dominated throughout the ninety minutes.

The only surprise was that the opening goal took so long to arrive. Wigan had applied plenty of pressure and it was good goalkeeping from a Bradford debutant keeper, 22-year-old printer and part-time footballer from Leeds Alan Aubrey. The keeper had played well for the reserves on the previous evening and had quickly been snapped up on a short-term deal.

Wigans £4,000 signing from Everton, ex- England international Derek Temple, was a constant threat and he played a big part in the opening goal that was well converted by DAVIES in the 43^rd minute.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 1-0 Bradford Park Avenue.

DAVIES put the game beyond the visitors early in the second half with another accomplished finish as he bulleted from a header from a pin-point corner kick supplied by Temple. Bradford clearly missed their skipper Atkinson, who had suffered a thigh strain in their opening game of the season. The visitor’s other debutant, Allan Ham, who signed from Guiseley, got little joy from the well organised Latics defence.  Play was held up for a period after keeper Aubrey took a blow to the head and the trainer had to attend to his injury. The third goal was the pick of the bunch with DAVIES producing some individual brilliance to give the scoreline a fairer reflection. The Bradford chairman was complementary and declared that, “Latics, on that showing, would beat most of the sides in the Third Division of the Football League, and probably a good few of the Second Division as well”

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 3-0 Bradford Park Avenue.

Scorers; Davies (43), (49), (80);

Attendance; 4,533

Team; WIGAN---Reeves; Morris, Sutherland, Coutts, Milne; Gillibrand, Savage, Breen, Temple, Davies, Fleming; Sub; --- Todd

BRADFORD PARK AVENUE---Aubrey; Brodie, Roberts, Lewley, Dolan, Bearland; Brown, Henderson, Campbell, Leighton, Ham; Sub; --- Hudson

Referee; Mr. E. R. Garner (Liverpool).

Reigning champions, Macclesfield, sent a strong message to any would-be challengers as they jumped to the top of the table with a thumping 6-0 home win against Fleetwood.