Report by SJG

FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR

STOCKPORT COUNTY vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

3^rd November 1978

HINNIGAN NETS TO DOWN BIG SPENDING COUNTY.

Wigans fine run of form continued on a cold Friday night against a high-flying Stockport side that had invested heavily in an attempt to gain promotion under the management of ex-Manchester City star Mike Summerbee.

A big following of around 3,000 fans made the trip to Edgeley Park to cheer on the team.

It was the proverbial game of two halves with the first period being played at high pace and the home side looking the more likely victors with the elusive winger Stuart Lee, and the ex-Arsenal playmaker George Armstrong causing problems for the Latics defence. However, for all the pressure there was little by way of end product with Noel Ward doing a fine job of shackling the dangerous Les Bradd. The closest effort came as a result of an under-hit Hinnigan back-pass, Lee nipped in and attempted to lob the ball over Brown but the Wigan keeper did well to leap and palm the ball away to safety.

Half Time; Stockport County 0-0 Wigan Athletic.

If County had the better of the first half then after a talking to by recently named ‘Manager of the month’ Ian McNeill, it was Latics who had the better of the exchanges after the interval.

Fretwell took over the task of marking Lee, and he applied himself to the job with relish as County’s dangerman became no more than a peripheral figure.

Wigan began to pass the ball with a degree of freedom and holes started to appear in their defences. Only fine goalkeeping by Rogan kept the Wigan forwards at bay.

Another short back-pass by Hinnigan caused a few hearts to flutter but Brown again was alert to the danger.

Then on 76 minutes HINNIGAN was in action at the other end of the field when he nipped in at the near post to guide a header into the net, following a Purdie corner.

Gore then went close to adding a second when after a fine run he unleashed a shot that went narrowly wide.

Tempers flared and Les Bradd was booked for an overly physical challenge on John Brown in the Wigan goal, but the miserly Latics defence was in no mood to be breached and Stockport stumbled to what was only their second home defeat of the season.

Full Time; Stockport County 0-1 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Hinnigan (76);

Attendance; 8,357

Team; WIGAN (4-4-2)—Brown; Smart, Fretwell, Ward, Hinnigan; Corrigan, Wright, Gore, Purdie; Houghton, Moore; Sub not used; Davids

STOCKPORT COUNTY (4-4-2)---Rogan; Thorpe, Rutter, Fogerty, Park; Edwards, Henson, Armstrong, Lee; Bradd, Thompson; Sub not used; Halford.

Referee; Mr R. Bridges (Deeside).