Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR

STOCKPORT COUNTY vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

 25^th August 1979

COUNTY OUTFLANKED AS LATICS HAVE LIFT-OFF.

Latics were unrecognisable from the dis-jointed side that had lost to Huddersfield in midweek, they played with skill and panache and justified their pre-season billing as one of the favourites for promotion.

Manager McNeill made a surprise selection with Davids getting the nod over regular starter Noel Ward in the heart of the defence.

In the 13^th minute Edwards slipped in the County defence and HOUGHTON exacted full advantage as he used his pace to race clear and fired home past Lawson.

Wigan had done their homework and had clearly learned from the previous two meetings when Summerbee had been allowed to control proceedings. Latics used the full width of the park and with Moore and Houghton raiding down the flanks Gore was allowed more space to push forward in the centre.

The plan worked perfectly for the second goal. Houghton and Moore probed and when the ball was pulled back to GORE he fired home from the edge of the box with the help of a slight deflection from Galvin. Davids was a tower of strength in defence and put his body on the line as he won a succession of headers, he even offered an attacking threat and on two separate occasions went close with well-timed headed efforts. His enthusiasm did spill over on the half hour and he was booked for a robust challenge on Galvin.

Half time; Stockport County 0-2 Wigan Athletic.

Summerbee was replaced by Prudham at the break as County tried to get back into the game. Then early in the second period a firm header by Hinnigan, from a well flighted Jeff Wright free kick, thudded against the County upright.  If the effort had found the net then surely the game was won, but County seemed to gain heart from their reprieve and on 72 minutes LEE, who had earlier been denied by a fine one-handed diving save by Shyne, headed home.

Once or twice County threatened to level the game and McNeill brought on Ward for Purdie to try and shore up the defence. Ward did have an impact, but not in the way that was expected, he won a tackle deep in his own half and threaded a fine ball through to Gore, but with only the keeper to beat he blasted his shot well over the bar.

As it happened, apart from adding to the anxiety levels of the band of Latics fans the miss was not crucial, and the well drilled defence was able to see out the remaining minutes without too many alarms.

Full time; Stockport County 1-2 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Lee (72); Houghton (14), Gore (29);

Attendance; 3,837

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

STOCKPORT COUNTY--- Lawson; Sherlock, Rutter, Edwards, Czuczman; Chapman, Galvin, Thorpe, Lee; Summerbee, Henson; SUB; -- Prudham (for Summerbee);

Referee; Mr. Derek. T. Richardson (Lincoln)