Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR

ROCHDALE vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

 6^th November 1979

LETHAL LATICS ARE HITTING TOP FORM.

After their convincing home win against Darlington, it was no surprise that manager McNeill chose to name the same starting XI for the midweek trip to Spotland to play Rochdale. The only change was on the substitutes bench with Brownbill, who had now recovered from injury, replacing youngster Glen Buckley.

Wigan began the game on the front foot and the game was just 6 minutes old when Tony Quinn extended his goalscoring run with another fine finish.

Gore floated in a corner, Houghton got his head to the ball before the Dale keeper and there was QUINN to nod home.

Latics quickly took total control of proceedings and only the occasional burst by Latics transfer target Bobby Hoy offered the home side any glimmer of hope.

Wigans four-man midfield bossed the middle of the park and made light work of the heavy muddy conditions. The only thing missing was the clinical finishing touch as Quinn, Houghton and Wright all saw efforts fail to register on the scoreboard.

Half Time; Rochdale 0-1 Wigan Athletic.

Latics picked up where they left off after the break and Houghton again failed to find the target when through on goal. It took Wigan until the 77^th minute to finally put the game to bed and double their lead. Gore sold Snookes an outrageous dummy and burst into the box before delivering a perfect cross for HOUGHTON to apply the final touch.

Gore almost added a third goal when he glanced a well delivered cross by Corrigan just past the post.

Hinnigan and Corrigan, just as against Darlington, linked play well and the big left back was a constant threat from set pieces.

The only downside, on an otherwise perfect night, came seconds before the final whistle when Brown was required to dive at the feet of the on-rushing Jones to recover an under hit back pass from Neil Davids. The two players collided heavily and the Wigan keeper had to be stretchered from the field.

Full Time; Rochdale 0-2 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Quinn (6), Houghton (77);

Attendance; 2,929

Team; WIGAN—Brown; Fretwell, Hinnigan, Methven, Davids; Gore, Wright, Corrigan, Urquhart; A. Quinn, Houghton; SUB; --- Brownbill.

ROCHDALE---Watson; Cliff, Snookes, Weir, Waldron; Taylor, Esser, Wann, Hoy; Seal, Jones; SUB; --- Hilditch (for Weir).

Referee; Mr. Ron Bridges (Deeside)

The weather took a hand in proceedings and it was eleven days before Wigan could play their next game.

This was bad news as the enforced inactivity may serve to disrupt the rhythm that the team was beginning to gain, but it also was good news in that it afforded ample time for Brown to recover from his injury.