Report by SJG

FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR

DONCASTER ROVERS vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

24^th February 1979

LATE JEFF WRIGHT GOAL GRABS THE SPOILS.

New Dad ( his wife having given birth to baby Lauren) Micky Moore returned from injury and illness to claim a place on the subs bench for the trip to Doncaster.

The big ‘winter freeze’ had finally given way to a thaw that made the pitch very heavy and by half time it had worsened to become more of a quagmire.

Doncaster came into the game on a run of five wins in six games and that confidence was soon evident. The home side were unlucky not to take an early lead when Corrigan was dispossessed by the lively Glynn Snodin who unleashed a long-range effort that passed just over the crossbar with Brown beaten.

Latics began to settle into the match and the midfield quickly took control of proceedings. However, despite the hard work and clever prompting of the midfield the attack appeared to be unable to fashion any clear openings and the Rovers defence, well marshalled by Pat Lally, kept any chances to a minimum. It was in fact Rovers who had the best chances and Laidlaw should have done better on 21 minutes as he outpaced the Latics back-line but placed his shot wide of both Brown and the goal. Wigans best effort was a Noel Ward overhead kick after a poor clearance from Olney that flew narrowly wide.

Half Time; Doncaster Rovers 0-0 Wigan Athletic.

Whatever Billy Bremner, the Doncaster manager, said at half-time it certainly fired up his team and the second period saw the Yorkshire side dominating play.

Midfield man Meagan produced a deft lob that beat Brown but Kevin Smart got round on the cover to slide in and clear the danger. Laidlaw then produced another shot that thumped against the upright and as he followed up he somehow directed his header over the bar. Ex Manchester City star Bobby Owen forced Brown into a fine full-length diving save and shortly after he headed narrowly wide of goal when well placed.

The Wigan goal was having a charmed life and there was little by way of attacking threat from the visitors. Manager McNeill brought on Moore to try and change the flow of the game and on 88 minutes Latics grabbed an undeserved opening goal.

A rare attacking foray saw Houghton produce a snap shot that Peacock could only block and the rebound fell to Jeff WRIGHT who saw his shot take a horrible looping deflection off Olney that left Peacock helpless as the ball arched over his head and dropped perfectly into the Rovers net for what was to be the winning goal. It was hardly a deserved two points, but it may yet be a crucial win as the promotion race hots up.

Full Time; Doncaster Rovers 0-1 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Wright (88);

Attendance; 4,612

Team; WIGAN (4-4-2)—Brown; Smart, Fretwell, Ward, Hinnigan; Corrigan, Wright, Gore, Purdie; Houghton, Crompton; Sub; Moore (for Crompton);

DONCASTER ROVERS (4-4-2) —Peacock; Olney, Snodin, Bradley, Lally; Meagan, Laidlaw, Bentley, Pugh; Owen, French; Sub; Lewis (for French);

Referee; Mr Peter N. Willis (County Durham).