Report by SJG

FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR

NORTHAMPTON TOWN vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

10^th March 1979

‘BOMBER’ BROWNBILL STARS IN LATICS WIN.

Wigan recorded their biggest win since joining the league when they racked up four goals against a Northampton side who are slipping towards the re-election zone.

Northampton play their home games at the County ground, which doubles up as the home of the County cricket team, and after ten minutes Latics had raced into a two-goal lead and it looked like a ‘cricket score’ was on the cards.

The first goal came on four minutes when Corrigan played a neat pass that BROWNBILL took in his stride and fired past the advancing keeper.

Six minutes later and a corner by Gore was only partially cleared to the edge of the box and PURDIE struck a low shot that went under the diving keeper and into the net via the inside of the post.

The Cobblers tried hard to respond but found John Brown in excellent form as he made good saves from both McCaffery and Reilly.

At the other end Moore, who was having an excellent game, brought the best out of the home keeper, Jayes, with a well struck effort. Then in the 32^nd minute CORRIGAN made a surging run past two defenders and then struck a low shot that beat the keepers dive and nestled in the bottom corner of the Town net.

Two minutes later FROGGATT took full advantage of Browns positioning and produced a lob that found the Latics net to reduce the arrears. The home side suffered another blow just before the break when Farrington was stretchered off after what had seemed to be an innocuous challenge.

Half Time; Northampton Town 1-3 Wigan Athletic.

In the second half Wigan continued to push forward Smart got onto the end of a cross by Gore and beat the keeper, but the shot was weak and Robertson was able to get back and scramble the shot clear.

Then on 56 minutes Wigan put the game beyond the home side when a Purdie free kick was blocked but fell to Moore who got in a firm shot that rebounded to BROWNBILL and he netted from a tight angle. The Northampton captain, Robertson, was booked for protesting that a hand had been used in the build-up, but his protests were waved away.

Northampton briefly threatened a revival when BRYANT struck a fine drive from long- distance after good work from Reilly.

However, it was Wigan who continued to create the chances and probably should have scored more, Corrigan shot wide when well-placed and Jayes redeemed himself for his earlier lapses with a number of timely interventions.

Full Time; Northampton Town 2-4 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Brownbill (4), (56), Purdie (10), Corrigan (32); Froggatt (34), Bryant (67);

Attendance; 2,275

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

NORTHAMPTON TOWN (4-4-2) —Jayes; Geidmintis, Mead, Woollett, Robertson; Bryant, Farrington, Saunders, McCaffery; Reilly, Froggatt; Sub; Ashenden (for Farrington);

Referee; Mr. Darryl V. Reeves (Uxbridge).

Derek Brownbill’s excellent form will give the manager a nice problem as Peter Houghton is now back approaching full fitness and should soon be back available for selection. Latics’ next game is a home game against Torquay United. This fixture has already fallen foul of the weather twice and hopefully it will be a case of ‘third time lucky’.