Report by SJG

FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR

PORTSMOUTH vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

26^TH SEPTEMBER 1978

LATICS’ LUCK JUST FAILS TO HOLD OUT.

Latics spent much of this game deep in defence.  Fratton Park is a noisy and intimidating place for away teams to visit, especially if the home side are in a good run of form.

Latics survived an early scare when young midfielder Leigh Barnard missed an open goal from all of four yards, he tried to be too precise and his effort struck the post.

John Brown, the man of the match, made a series of quality saves to keep the Pompey at bay. He made a fine stop to turn an effort by Davey round a post, then he produced a flying effort to palm clear a volley by Jeff Hefferman.

Browns outstanding display helped to settle the Wigan side and gradually they grew into the game.

Former Burnley keeper Peter Mellor in the home goal was called upon to make a fine save when he turned a Jeff Wright shot over the crossbar and then had to be alert to deny Purdie, Brownbill and Hinnigan.

Half Time; Portsmouth 0-0 Wigan Athletic.

The Wigan defence, marshalled by the excellent Ward gave Brown good protection but when the lively Portsmouth forwards breached the Latics eight-man defence they still could not get past the Wigan shot-stopper.

The game had a flashpoint in the 68th minute when the impressive Davids and striker Davey chased a long ball, the Wigan man appeared to be holding the striker and the referee blew for a foul just as the ball, which had run free, was slotted home by Lathan. The home fans were incensed and a spate of bookings followed as tempers flared.

It was cruel on Latics, who had worked so hard to keep hold of a point, when on 84 minutes the breakthrough arrived.  Garwood, who had come on to replace Pompey’s leading scorer Hemmerman, had a shot that Brown had covered, but a deflection meant that Brown could only parry the effort and DAVEY was the first player on hand to slot the rebound home.

No-one could deny that the points had been deserved by an impressive Portsmouth team, but Wigan in the remaining minutes pushed hard to try and get back in the match. Such that two Portsmouth players were booked, one for foul play, the other for time wasting. 

A deep cross from substitute Wilkie nearly found the head of Brownbill but Mellor again was alert and averted any danger.

Full Time; Portsmouth 1-0 Wigan Athletic.

Attendance; 13,958

Scorers; Davey (84);

Team; WIGAN—Brown; Smart, Davids, Ward, Hinnigan; Corrigan, Wright, Gore, Purdie; Brownbill, Moore; Sub; Wilkie (for Moore);

PORTSMOUTH—Mellor; Ellis, Viney, Foster, Piper; Denyer, Lathan, Barnard, Pullar; Hemmerman, Davey; Sub; Garwood (for Hemmerman);

Referee; Mr. A. Bune. (Sussex)