Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR

NEWPORT COUNTY vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

 27^th October 1979

TWO GOAL LEAD WASTED AS COUNTY FIGHT BACK.

A patched-up Wigan side stormed into a two-goal lead against a Newport County side who had won their previous four games on the bounce.

Leading scorer Peter Houghton failed a late fitness test on a bruised thigh and that required a reshuffle with Glen Buckley being handed a debut in the back four, while George Urquhart was given a striking role alongside the inexperienced Tony Quinn.

Wigans first goal came on 14 minutes and was slightly against the run of play. A Hinnigan free kick was flicked on by the head of Corrigan and Quinn was the first to react as he fired in a low shot. Plumley got down well to save but he only pushed the ball out to METHVEN who finished well.

Wigan grew in confidence and with Corrigan pulling the strings in midfield they went close again with Wright flashing a shot narrowly wide and Corrigan forcing Plumley into action with a good drive.

On 27 minutes QUINN beat the Newport offside trap and as Plumley advanced to close down the angle he calmly chipped the ball over the keeper and into the net.

Newport struck back immediately when Moore looped in a deep cross and transfer-listed TYNAN ghosted in to nod home.

Half Time; Newport County 1-2 Wigan Athletic.

Three minutes after the break and the home side had levelled the scores. Lowndes lifted a ball into the area, Moore headed on and when Davids and Brown both hesitated it allowed TYNAN to nip in and prod home.

Suddenly it was the home side who were controlling affairs and on 70 minutes Lowndes and Aldridge caused mayhem in the Wigan box and when the ball was laid back to centre-half OAKES his low shot bobbled through Browns grasp and Methven, who desperately tried to clear the ball off the line, could only hook the ball into the roof of the net.

Latics were perhaps unlucky not to gain at least a point but the pressure is now building on manager McNeill and a good result against Darlington is now essential if the much talked about revival is to materialise into something more than ‘wishful thinking’.

Full Time; Newport County 3-2 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Methven (14), A. Quinn (27); Tynan (30), (48), Oakes (70);

Attendance; 4,910

Team; WIGAN—Brown; Fretwell, Hinnigan, Methven, Davids, Buckley; Gore, Wright, Corrigan; A. Quinn, Urquhart; SUB; --- Smart (for Buckley)

NEWPORT COUNTY---Plumley; Walden, Relish, Davies, Oakes; Bailey, Vaughan, Lowndes, Moore; Aldridge, Tynan; SUB; --- Bruton

Referee; Mr. Brian T. Stevens (Stonehouse, Gloucestershire).