Report by SJG

FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs READING

18^th November 1978

HOUGHTON SEALS A FAMOUS VICTORY.

If there were any lingering doubts about Wigan’s right to be in the Football League then this game put all those to bed once and for all. 

The rain was falling heavily and kept many away as a crowd of 5,858 was recorded, but those who missed the game, missed an all action 90 minutes with Wigan going toe to toe with second placed Reading and coming out well on top.

Latics made light of the very slippy conditions as Purdie played the role of midfield maestro as he prompted the attack with some fine passing.

The game was full of chances and incidents.  On 33 minutes Corrigan had a golden chance to give Latics the lead but somehow he spurned the opportunity, then a minute later HOUGHTON surged forward and fired in a shot that Death in the Reading goal could only parry and when the Wigan man got to the loose ball he tucked the rebound neatly into the corner of the net (picture above). From that moment a good game turned into an outstanding one with both keepers being called upon to make good saves and when the keeper was beaten by a well struck Micky Moore shot the crossbar came to Reading’s rescue.

Reading themselves were playing some neat stuff but the defence, which was well marshalled by Fretwell, did well to restrict the number of clear-cut chances.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 1-0 Reading.

Shortly after the break the Latics defence had a lucky escape when Hetzke was left with far too much space and time and he netted, only for the linesman to raise his flag to rule out the goal. A few minutes later Earle should have levelled but fired wide from six-yards.

It was only in the last few minutes that Wigan’s effort and pressure finally bore fruit.

Noel WARD banged home the second from an in-swinging Purdie corner, and no sooner had the game restarted before HOUGHTON made a fine bursting run through a tiring Reading back-line before finishing with a sweetly struck shot.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 3-0 Reading.

Scorers; Houghton (33), (88), Ward (87);

Attendance; 5,858

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

READING (4-4-2) —Death; Peters, White, Hicks, Bowman; Bennett, Earles, Sanchez, Lewis; Hetzke, Kearney; Sub; Kearns (for Sanchez);

Referee; Mr T. Morris (Leeds)

The win saw Latics leap to ninth spot in the table, just four points off that final promotion place.