Report by SJG

F. A. CUP

NORTHWICH VICTORIA vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

5^th January 1980

HOW DID LATICS NOT WIN?

Finally, at the fifth time of asking this game got played.  The mud, rain, fog and ice finally relented and Wigan and Northwich finally got the game finished, only for it to go to a replay at Springfield Park.

Latics seemed to have the game totally in their control but two late goals in the final 15 minutes saw the Vics grab a draw and a money-spinning replay.

Wigan were very much on top in the game but poor finishing left the door open for the late flurry by the home side and they were more than happy to accept the invitation.

The opening 15 minutes saw Latics wrestling the early control and Wright crashed a fierce drive against the frame of the home goal and Houghton produced a neat flick header that Nieman somehow smuggled to safety before it could cross the goal-line.

Houghton grazed a post with another well struck effort and it was no surprise when HINNIGAN raced onto a deep Wright cross to power a header home past the flat-footed Ryan. Two minutes later and Ryan produced a fine diving stop to push a long-range drive by Wright around the post.

On 33 minutes Wright rolled a free kick into the path of GORE who struck home a blistering drive to extend the lead.

Half Time; Northwich Victoria 0-2 Wigan Athletic.

The weather seemed set fair and there was no rolling fog to offer the home side relief but they did get a boost on 74 minutes when Gore was adjudged to have handled a shot by Forshaw and SMITH fired home from the spot.

The home side had brought on ex-Latics man Keith Braithwaite from their substitutes bench and this had given them more width in attack and increased potency.

Wigan regrouped and had a number of chances to re-establish their scoreboard dominance but the opportunities went begging and with two minutes left on the clock a goalmouth scramble ended with MAYMAN turning the ball home from close-range.

So Latics must try again at Springfield Park and for the winners a potentially lucrative trip to Chelsea was waiting as the prize.

Full Time; Northwich Victoria 2-2 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Hinnigan (17), Gore (33); Smith (74, pen), Mayman (88);

Attendance; 5,249

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

NORTHWICH VICTORIA--- Ryan; Ritchie, Collier, Mayman, Forshaw; Nieman, O’Neill, Jones, Smith; Bailey, Hall; SUB; --- Braithwaite (for O’Neill)

Referee; Mr. T. L. Morris (Leeds).