Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs HUDDERSFIELD TOWN

 22^nd August 1979

DEFENSIVE LAPSES SEES POINTS GO MISSING.

Wigan began the game well and seemed to be in complete control. Especially when on the 15-minute mark MOORE got in front of his marker to glance home a deft header from a looping Purdie cross that gave the keeper no chance.

However, gradually Huddersfield settled to their task and Wigans passing game began to unravel.

The equalising goal came from a free header, both Shyne and the defenders hesitated and the deep cross by Robinson picked out HOLMES who found the net.

Wigan tried to respond to the set back and when Moore was tripped by Robinson as he set off on a surging run a booking followed.

Then in the 40^th minute the normally dependable Fretwell left a back pass woefully short and FLETCHER nipped in and lifted his shot over the stranded Shyne.

Latics nearly levelled before the break but Starling made a fine save from Moore, and when the ball rebounded to Gore the keeper recovered to make a second save.

Half time; Wigan Athletic 1-2 Huddersfield Town.

Wigan continued to probe and when Harvey rushed a clearance it struck Hart and fell into the path of Corrigan. The Liverpudlian suddenly found himself one-on-one with the keeper but Starling proved a formidable obstacle and the rushed shot was wide of the target.

Manager McNeill brought on Brownbill for Wright as he urged his side to push forward.

With Latics committing more men forward they were looking more susceptible to a fast break. Huddersfield certainly had enough pace to make the Wigan rearguard uncomfortable and when David Cowling went close to adding a third, but Noel Ward managed to clear the ball off the line.

Then in the dying minutes Ian Purdie played a one-two with Moore before firing in a strong shot that somehow Starling palmed away.

Full time; Wigan Athletic 1-2 Huddersfield Town.

Scorers; Moore (15); Holmes (29), Fletcher (40);

Attendance; 6,927

Team; WIGAN—Shyne; Smart, Hinnigan, N. Ward, Fretwell; Gore, Wright, Corrigan, Purdie; Houghton, Moore; SUB; Brownbill (for Wright);

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN--- Starling; Brown, Robinson, Holmes, Sutton; Hanvey, Laverick, Hart, Cowling; Robins, Fletcher; SUB not used; -- Branagan;

Referee; Mr. John Lovatt (Crewe).

It an ironic twist the player who had the shortest journey to the game at Springfield Park was the Huddersfield Town striker, Ian Robins.

He lived barely a hundred yards from the ground and his family ran the newsagents on Woodhouse Lane.

Last season Latics had only managed one win in their first seven games and had accumulated just three points. That bad start had really hindered their promotion push and because of this the team were very keen not to replicate that slow start.

Manager McNeill was claiming that there was ‘no panic’, but the need to get the season up-and-running was growing with every game.