Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs NORTHAMPTON TOWN

 1^st December 1979

AFTER THE ‘LORD MAYORS SHOW’ AS LATICS DRAW A BLANK

After the blood and thunder of two thrilling F. A. Cup encounters the return to League action saw Latics suffering with a bad case of ‘after the lord mayors show’.

The match up with Northampton was a drab affair as Latics struggled to find any sort of form as the Cobblers produced a well drilled defensive display to totally frustrate the home side.

Tony Quinn has won many plaudits since his debut but on this occasion he was far from his best and the Northampton defence kept him on a tight rein.

Wigans best attacking moments came courtesy of Hinnigan who was a constant threat from set pieces and twice flashed headers narrowly wide during a fairly anaemic first period.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-0 Northampton Town.

Prior to the kick off Wigan manager Ian McNeill had been presented with the Manager of the Month award for the month of November, but on this occasion any tactical inspiration in the half time pep talk fell on deaf ears as the second period proved to be a continuation of the frustrating fare.

The best effort of the second half again was courtesy of the tireless Hinnigan who ghosted into the penalty area to power a header on goal but the effort was ill-directed and the keeper Poole made a comfortable save.

The visitors offered little in attack and their main threat came courtesy of the nippy O’Donohue, but the Southampton loanee failed to really test Brown and his striking partner the 18-year-old Farmer who had been signed from Leicester City had a quiet afternoon with Davids and Methven proving a formidable centre half pairing.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 0-0 Northampton Town.

Attendance; 6,158

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

NORTHAMPTON--- Poole, Walker, Sandercock, Byatt, Waldock; Farrington, Denyer, Saunders, McCaffery; O’Donoghue, Farmer; SUB; --- Sandy (for Waldock)

Referee; Mr. Michael Peck (Doncaster).