Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs TORQUAY UNITED

 29^th September 1979

LATICS CAUGHT ON THE BREAK

Latics travelled to Hartlepool in midweek but with heavy fog rolling in off the North Sea the game was called off and so thoughts turned to Torquay and a chance to build on the previous fine performance against Bradford. The first half was an evenly contested affair and both sides had chances to take the lead before COOPER snatched a 31^st minute lead for the visitors.

After barely five minutes of the game a crucial incident had gone virtually unnoticed by the crowd, as a freak injury had seen young keeper Chris Shyne break his wrist. The keeper did not leave the field and bravely played out the rest of the game, but the incident did affect the Wigan defence as they tried to give the keeper as much protection as possible.

After the early Torquay pressure Wigan grew into the game with Houghton and Wright seeing good goal-bound efforts well saved by Turner in the visitor’s goal. Moore and Urquhart linked well to provide a chance for Davids, but his deft flick was well claimed by the Torquay keeper.

Half time; Wigan Athletic 0-1 Torquay United.

Wigan pushed hard as they searched for the equaliser, but the Gulls defence was well organised and fairly uncompromising as it dished out some fairly rough treatment to Houghton in particular, which eventually led to the ex-South Liverpool man making way for Crompton.

Moore had a headed chance that he failed to keep under the bar, and as the pressure mounted Brownbill drove a thunderous shot narrowly wide of the target. As the time began to run out Wigan threw more bodies forward and Gore saw a dipping shot well saved by Turner.

Then in the 89^th minute Torquay broke forward and DAVIES fired a low shot that flew through keeper Shyne’s legs to give the visitors a barely deserved second goal and when a minute later the Wigan defence was found wanting SERMANNI prodded home a very flattering third.

Full time; Wigan Athletic 0-3 Torquay United.

Scorers; Cooper (31), Davies (89), Sermanni (90);

Attendance; 6,541

Team; WIGAN—Shyne; Gore, Hinnigan, Davids, Fretwell; Urquhart, Wright, Corrigan, Houghton; Brownbill, Moore; SUB; -- Crompton (for Houghton);

TORQUAY UNITED ---Turner; Pethard, Ritchie, Hagan, Bourne; Sermanni, Davies, Lawrence, Twitchin; Cooper, Murphy; SUB; -- Coffill (for Ritchie);

Referee; Mr. Neville J. Ashley (Nantwich).