Report by SJG

FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs WIMBLEDON

14^th February 1979

WOMBLES STEM THE WIGAN CHARGE.

The ten-day enforced weather break after Wigans fine win against Portsmouth was not enough for Hinnigan and Moore to recover from knocks and the team had to be reshuffled for the re-arranged home clash against Dario Gradi’s strong Wimbledon side.

Two strikes as cold and deadly as the bitter frosty Valentines night air showed the Latics faithful why Wimbledon are sitting on top of the League and illustrated what the team would have to do to join them.

Latics gave away two soft goals in the space of ten first half minutes and despite launching something of a pounding on the Dons goal in the second period they were unable to pull the game back.

The pitch was hard and the game only went ahead because of the insistence of both managers. The crowd of 6,704 hardy souls were treated to an exciting affair and the first girl arrived on nine minutes when John LESLIE made a strong surging forward run and planted a firm shot past the diving Brown in the Latics goal. The strike was against the run of play as Latics had begun the game well with Purdie looking lively and Goddard had to be alert to keep the scoresheet blank.

LESLIE (pictured) struck again on 22 minutes when Brown could only block an effort from Alan Cork and the loose ball bounced kindly for his fellow striker affording him time so that he could execute a composed finish.

Latics poured forward in search of a foothold in the game and a way back into the contest, only to find Goddard in fine form as he repelled a number of efforts. Houghton thought he had found a route back when he was sent tumbling in the penalty area but the referee waved the appeals away.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-2 Wimbledon.

Houghton and his powerful running was causing lots of problems for the Wimbledon defence and early in the second half he was sent tumbling by Perkins and this time the referee pointed to the spot. PURDIE stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way to set up an all-out assault on the visitors’ goal. Alan Crompton was looking lively and causing issues for his markers but Brownbill was struggling to adapt to the deeper role that he was being asked to fulfil.

Latics forced eleven corners, compared to Wimbledon who managed just one, but the side from South London were well organised and the set plays, which had been the source of much joy for Wigan, were well rebuffed. Houghton was unlucky not to have grabbed a goal and Crompton was only inches away from getting a telling touch to a fine long diagonal pass from Gore. However, in the end it was not to be and Wimbledon took a hard- earned couple of points back to the capital.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 1-2 Wimbledon.

Scorers; Purdie (53, pen); Leslie (9), (22);

Attendance; 6,704

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

WIMBLEDON (4-4-2) —Goddard; Bryant, Eames, Haverson, Galvin; Perkins, Ketteridge, Parsons, Leslie, Denny, Cork; Sub not used; Driver.

Referee; Mr M. R. Baker (Wolverhampton).