Report by SJG

FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR

READING vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

26^TH August 1978

ELM PARK MISERY FOR LATICS.

Next up for the Latics was a trip to Elm Park to play a side that had won both of its first two games, including an away win at Grimsby on the opening day of the season. The Wigan press had not been very kind after their home defeat and the headlines and editorials had soon lost that early optimism.

Wigan made the trip down south with confidence at best fragile……..the journey home was worse.

Wigan were well beaten and but for some profligate finishing, and some top-class goalkeeping by John Brown in the Wigan goal, the defeat could have been a hammering.

Browns’ first save was as early as the sixth minute when a superb reflex save denied Kearns. Reading were not to be denied and in the 33^rd minute a flick on by Bowman struck Gillibrand who raised his hands to protect his face and the referee pointed to the spot. KEARNS sent Brown the wrong way to give Reading the lead that their dominance of play fully deserved.

Just before half-time Reading looked to have doubled their lead but the linesman had spotted an offside and Latics were reprieved.

Half Time; Reading 1-0 Wigan Athletic.

Latics had offered little in attack in the first period and needed a response, but six minutes into the second half 18-year-old midfielder SANCHEZ unleashed a wicked shot that left Brown grasping at fresh air.

Neil Davids, who was cutting a frustrated figure as he struggled to cope with the lively Reading forwards, was booked for dissent (his second successive booking) and was substituted with Crompton being brought on to improve Wigan’s attacking options. The Latics defence benefitted from more than a slice of luck as they tried to keep the dominant home side at bay. However, they did start to threaten the home goal with Jeff Wright sending a well struck shot just over the bar, and then when the Reading defence struggled to clear a Noel Ward header a poor clearance by Bowman fell to Houghton who struck a dipping shot that was narrowly off target.

Over-all it was Readings match, as they recorded a third straight win, and their evening was only marred by bookings for Bennett and Earles. The referee also added further to Wigans bad evening by booking Purdie. Three games played…….no goals scored -- a long journey home.

Full Time; Reading 2-0 Wigan Athletic.

Attendance; 5,033

Scorers; Kearns (33, pen), Sanchez (51);

Team; WIGAN—Brown; Gore, Smart, Davids, Gillibrand, Ward; Corrigan, Wright, Purdie; Wilkie, Houghton; Sub; Crompton (for Davids);

READING—Death; Peters, White, Bowman, Hicks; Bennett, Earles, Hetkze, Lewis; Kearns, Sanchez; Sub not used; Williams;

Referee; Mr. A.D. Cox (South Croydon).