Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR

PETERBOROUGH UNITED vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

 26^th December 1979

LATICS ON THE PROMOTION CHARGE

The weather and the F. A. Cup run had combined to give Latics something of a fixture pile-up and faced with a run of five fixtures in nine days the side had to dig deep into their energy reserves to record a hard-earned win at London Road against the Posh.

For the first time in nine games manager McNeill made a change to his starting XI with Moore replacing the injured Houghton.

Wigan got the best possible start as after 86 seconds Methven made a forward foray, carrying the ball from deep in his own half to the edge of the Peterborough box and when Slough dwelled on the ball it was QUINN who nipped in to fire Wigan ahead with a crisp low shot.

Wigans defensive line looked strong with Gore blocking any forward runs by the dangerous Quow and when the frustrated Peterborough wide man changed flanks he got little change from the ever-impressive Hinnigan. Wigans left back is beginning to attract a lot of attention from clubs further up the League pyramid and if his form continues at this level there is little doubt that Latics will struggle to retain his services.

Wigans centre halves also impressed with Davids proving a rugged and robust partner for the rather more elegant Methven who continues to improve with every game.

Latics may have been guilty of sitting back on their lead and Mickey Gynn went close to an equaliser when his driven shot struck the Latics crossbar, and just before the break Tony Cliss forced Brown into a finger-tip save.

Half Time; Peterborough United 0-1 Wigan Athletic.

The home side grabbed an equaliser at the start of the second half, but the goal had a big slice of luck in the build-up. First Kellow sliced his shot wildly off target, then Corrigan slipped and this allowed QUOW to slide a shot under the advancing Brown.

Latics regrouped and on 66 minutes a Hinnigan cross found Quinn whose header was goal-bound until Slough palmed the ball to safety.

The resulting penalty kick was expertly dispatched by GORE, his second successful kick in two games, who sent Waugh the wrong way from the spot.

Full Time; Peterborough United 1-2 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Quinn (2), Gore (66, pen); Quow (47);

Attendance; 3,312

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

PETERBOROUGH UNITED--- Waugh; Carmichael, Phillips, Slough, Foster; Sharkey, Gynn, Syrett, Quow; Kellock, Cliss; SUB; --- Robson (for Gynn).

Referee; Mr. K. G. Salmon (Barnet).