Report by SJG

FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR

ROCHDALE vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

19^th March 1979

LATICS GO FOURTH AS DALE ARE BEATEN.

 A large following of over 2,000 fans made their way from Wigan to Spotland on a Monday night to see Latics continue to build momentum as they push for promotion. On a quagmire of a pitch, that meant that the game was in doubt until just before kick-off, Latics managed to assert their style of football and should have been out of reach before half-time.

An unchanged Wigan side brought the best out of the Dale keeper Chris Shyne but he could do little to stop a dipping 30-yard effort from PURDIE that gave the Latics a 32^nd minute advantage after good work from Gore. Brownbill nearly doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time, but his hurried shot was narrowly wide of the goal.

Dale also had a chance following a Collins free kick but the floated delivery allowed Brown to punch clear.

Half Time; Rochdale 0-1 Wigan Athletic

Rochdale came out with much more purpose in the second period and put the Wigan defence under pressure, but with the outstanding Ward and Fretwell leading the way Latics held firm.

The ex- Huddersfield and Halifax player Bobby Hoy (pictured) was the man who got the Rochdale side playing with some probing passes.

Wigan were still making chances with both Purdie and Moore missing good opportunities to double the lead.

A young striker, Mark Hilditch, who later in his career would play for the Latics was introduced from the bench as the hosts searched for more of a cutting edge in the final third.

The second Latics goal came on 74 minutes, Purdie and Gore broke quickly and engineered the space to deliver a dangerous cross. Brownbill was at full stretch to try and get a crucial touch and although he failed in this endeavour his presence was sufficient to distract keeper Shyne who fumbled the cross and in so doing he presented MOORE with a simple finish.

Wigan closed ranks and easily saw out the remaining 16 minutes to claim the two points and climb up to fourth place in the division.

The Latics fans headed back to their cars and coaches in good humour and with the dream of automatic promotion very much alive.

Full Time; Rochdale 0-2 Wigan Athletic

Scorers; Purdie (32), Moore (74);

Attendance; 3,627

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

ROCHDALE (4-4-2) — Shyne; Creamer, Taylor, Bannon, Hart; Scaife, Hoy, O’Loughlin, Esser; Jones, Collins; Sub; Hilditch (for Collins);

Referee; Mr K. McNally (Clwyd)