Report by SJG

FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs NEWPORT COUNTY

2^ND September 1978

A VERY BAD DAY AT THE OFFICE.

The crowd of 5,319, was significantly down on the Grimsby game and reflected the disappointing points return that the Latics had achieved to date.

A game against bottom side Newport was the ideal opportunity to get the season up and running with a first League win.

Lady luck was not with Wigan in the early stages, the new front line looked dangerous and two early chances for Purdie and Moore found the Newport keeper, Plumley, in fine form.

County then, against the run of play, opened the scoring when SINCLAIR headed home following a corner.

Seven minutes later and the normally reliable Brown made an horrendous error and GODDARD was left free to head into an unguarded net.

Latics were clearly rattled and badly needed to regroup.

 Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-2 Newport County.

The half time team talk saw Wigan start on the front foot after the break but when WOODS arrowed a header from a Relish cross into the top corner of the Wigan net it looked like, ‘Game Over’.

Wigan finally started to settle back into the game and on 61 minutes history was written when a HINNIGAN header from a left-wing corner by Purdie saw the first League goal for the Latics. After 331 minutes Latics had recorded their first goal, and they visibly gained confidence as suddenly the game took on a different feel with each Wigan attack seeming to carry a potential threat.

Attacker Micky Worswick was introduced for Joe Hinnigan as Wigan threw everything into attack and it was no surprise when PURDIE netted again on 88 minutes. The winger controlled the ball on his chest and thigh, before unleashing a superb volley from 20 yards.

The fight-back had come too late and the visitors were able to take the points back down the motorway to South Wales, leaving Latics wondering where their first win would come from.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 2-3 Newport County.

Attendance; 5,319

Scorers; Hinnigan (61), Purdie (88); Sinclair (28), Goddard (35), Woods (47);

Team; WIGAN—Brown; Gore, Hinnigan, Gillibrand, Ward; Seddon, Corrigan, Wright, Purdie; Wilkie, Moore; Sub; Worswick (for Hinnigan);

NEWPORT COUNTY—Plumley; Walden, Relish, Davies, Walker; Lowndes, Vaughan, Thompson, Sinclair; Woods, Goddard; Sub; Warriner (for Woods);

Referee; Mr. A. McDonald (Sutton Coldfield).