Report by SJG

FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs BARNSLEY

3^rd March 1979

LATE PENALTY DENIES LATICS A VALUABLE WIN.

Peter Houghton’s ankle was still swollen and he failed to pass a late fitness test so Derek Brownbill came in to partner Moore in attack.

The best home crowd of the season turned out to see these two promotion- chasing sides.  The game was an open attacking affair with play moving swiftly from end-to -end. John Brown was forced into early saves to deny Little and Bell but it was Latics who spurned the best early chance, Ward got his head to a cross and his flick landed at the feet of Corrigan who scooped his close-range shot over the bar.

Both teams had further narrow escapes as first Springett flapped at a Purdie cross and Moore was able to direct his effort goalwards only for Saunders to clear off the line. Then Pugh and Barnsley player-manager Alan Clarke both had efforts that struck the Wigan woodwork.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-0 Barnsley.

The second half continued in the same entertaining fashion but gradually Latics began to attain a degree of midfield dominance and Springett had to call upon all his experience to deal with dangerous shots from Wright and Purdie.

Gore, who was back in his more familiar midfield spot was prompting and probing and driving Latics forward and in the 72^nd minute the breakthrough finally arrived.

Purdie delivered a dangerous corner into the six-yard box and when the clearing header dropped to WRIGHT he produced a gem of a volley that flew past Springett and into the net.

Smart brought down Riley and Clarke (much to the delight of the home fans) was booked for demanding stern sanctions for the Latics right back. The free kick was well struck, but Brown was more than equal to the effort.

CLARKE had the last laugh, as on 88 minutes he tumbled in the box under pressure from Hinnigan and a spot-kick was awarded.

The ex-England international took the kick himself and calmly sent Brown the wrong way as he rolled the ball home.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 1-1 Barnsley.

Scorers; Wright (72); Clarke (88, pen);

Attendance; 9,427

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

BARNSLEY (4-4-2) —Springett; Collins, Martin-Chambers, Saunders, McCarthy; Pugh, Little, Millar, Bell; Clarke, Riley; Sub; Banks (for Millar);

Referee; Mr Angus MacDonald (Sutton Coldfield).

Back-to-back home draws, in each case after conceding late goals, feels like two vital points dropped, but with 17 games to go Latics are still only three points adrift of that vital final promotion spot.

Latics need to regain some of the momentum that they have lost and a trip down south to play a Northampton Town side that has struggled in recent weeks may be the ideal opportunity to kick start another string of positive results.