Report by SJG

F. A. CUP

BLACKPOOL vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

 24^th November 1979

WIGAN GAIN A WELL-DESERVED ENCORE

A huge following of around 6,000 made their way to the Fylde coast to see Latics cross swords with the mighty Blackpool in a much anticipated first round F. A. Cup first round tie.

Wigans fans certainly had a roller-coaster afternoon as they suffered the lows of falling behind and the highs of a fully deserved leveller along with the frustration of not gaining the win that their overall display deserved.

Latics had begun well with Quinn and Houghton both spurning good chances but on 16 minutes they were rocked when the home side grabbed the opening goal.

Methven made a mess of a back pass and Spence was the quickest to the loose ball, his shot was well saved by Brown but after a series of pinball like strikes the ball fell to MCEWAN who fired home.

The goal clearly rattled the Latics side and for the next few minutes Blackpool looked likely to add to their lead with Kellow seeing a snap shot pushed to safety Eventually Wigan settled back into their rhythm and Methven saw a goal-bound header, following a corner, cleared off the line by Pashley.

The young Blackpool keeper Ian Hesford was on top form and his excellence denied Gore on a number of occasions as Wigan pressed for a leveller.

Half Time; Blackpool 1-0 Wigan Athletic.

Wigan forced a succession of corner kicks as they continued to have the better of the game and in the 66^th minute Wigan finally got the breakthrough. A Corrigan corner was headed down by Houghton into the path of METHVEN who poked the ball home from six yards past a helpless Hesford.

Roared on by the raucous Latics following the blues went looking for a winning goal and the game became a thrilling end-to-end encounter with Brown and Hesford both being called upon to make good interventions.

When the final whistle blew both sides had given their all and must now prepare for a replay at Springfield Park.

Full Time; Blackpool 1-1 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Methven (66); McEwan (16);

Attendance; 11,277

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

BLACKPOOL---Hesford, Gardner, Pashley, Thompson, Ashurst; McEwan, Hockaday, Doyle, Weston; Spence, Kellow; SUB; --- Wilson (for Spence).

Referee; Mr. Kevin McNally (South Wirral).