Report by SJG

FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs PORT VALE

13^th April 1979

A GOOD FRIDAY TO REMEMBER AS PROMOTION REMAINS ON-TRACK.

Wigan Athletic’s hopes of promotion looked dead and buried as an inspired Port Vale side took full toll of any defensive lapses to race into a 3-0 lead by the hour mark, but what followed will last long in the memory of all those who were there to witness this incredible fightback.

The Easter fixtures are often decisive in the hunt for promotion and Wigan started the game in good spirits, they welcomed back Joe Hinnigan to the starting XI after injury, with John Curtis stepping down. After just eight minutes Bernie WRIGHT dove in to head the visitors into a surprise lead. Latics tried to reply but a Purdie chip shot was scrambled clear and Houghton failed to net from two half chances that fell to him in the box with the keeper making good saves. Then on 44 minutes Ward and Smart got into a mix up and TODD took full advantage as he doubled the Vale lead.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-2 Port Vale.

Worse was to follow on 59 minutes when TODD outpaced a static Latics defence before firing home.

McNeill threw on Brownbill on the hour mark to replace Noel Ward as Latics looked for a way back into the game and the change brought instant results as Moore, Brownbill and HOUGHTON linked well before the Latics striker fired low under the diving Dance in the Vale goal. The goal looked to be little more than a consolation but HOUGHTON netted again six minutes later when he clipped a shot over Dance from a tight angle to renew hope on the Wigan terraces (2-3).

On 76 minutes Latics drew level when HOUGHTON got onto the end of a fine cross by Jeff Wright and glanced home a neat header (3-3).

The roars from the crowd had barely died down when Hinnigan headed a Purdie corner back to BROWNBILL who lashed home from close range (4-3).

MOORE added the icing with a neat chip over the advancing Dance to make it five goals in nineteen minutes and to ensure an unlikely victory (5-3).

It may not have started out this way but by 4.45pm it had turned into a very ‘GOOD Friday’.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 5-3 Port Vale.

Scorers; Houghton (66), (72), (76), Brownbill (78), Moore (85); B. Wright (8), Todd (44), (59);

Attendance; 8,452

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

PORT VALE (4-4-2) — Dance; Keenan, Griffiths, Beech, Delgado; Hawkins, N. Chamberlain, Farrell, Wright; Todd, Healy; Sub; M. Chamberlain for Beech;

Referee; Mr. J.K. Butcher (Kendal).