Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR

YORK CITY vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

2^nd February 1980

BUSINESS AS USUAL---LATICS RETURN WITH A LEAGUE WIN.

It might have been expected that after the highs of recent games there may be an adverse reaction when the team returned to normal, ‘bread and butter’ games. Certainly, a game at Bootham Crescent in-front of 2,400 fans is a step change from the hype of the match up at Goodison Park.

The game was in doubt for a long time and straw was used to cover the pitch to avoid frost causing yet another postponement.

The manager McNeill retained the same XI that started at Everton and was rewarded with a fine performance from his charges.

Three inches of snow had been brushed from the pitch shortly before kick off and the first half was a low-key affair with both sides struggling to come to terms with the conditions but Latics always seemed to have the edge.

Half Time; York City 0-0 Wigan Athletic.

The match took a surprise turn early in the second half when McDonald outpace ed Fretwell on the flank and his cross screwed off the head of METHVEN and past the helpless Brown.

It took only five minutes for Latics to reply and when they did it was a high- quality re-poste. Gore broke on the right and crossed for HOUGHTON to loop a header from 14 yards over the keeper and into the top corner of the home net. Wigan did not stop there as they continued to press and in the 67^th minute Houghton broke through the defensive line before rolling the ball square for CORRIGAN to apply a simple finish.

The lead was fully deserved and Wigan should have built on it as they continued to pick sizeable holes in the York defence. Manager McNeill will be disappointed that his team were not able to put the game out of reach and in the end they had to be on guard to ensure that there were no late slips that may allow the Yorkshire side to grab a share of the points.

Full Time; York City 1-2 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Houghton (54), Corrigan (67); Methven (og, 49);

Attendance; 2,400

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

YORK CITY--- Crawford; Kay, Walsh, McGhie, Faulkner; Clements, Randall, Lorimer, Loggie; McDonald, Eccles; SUB; --- Ferebee (for Loggie)

Referee; Mr. George Flint (Kirkby-in-Ashfield)

The week also saw some notable transfer activity. First Ian McNeill used his contacts North of the border to snap up a promising young midfielder, Dave McMullen.

Then one of Wigans long serving legends decided that he would take this moment to announce his retirement from the game.

Ian Gillibrand had been a fantastic servant of the club and will always be remembered as the teams first captain when they joined the Football League.

Ian was born in November 1948 in Blackburn and began his career at Arsenal before joining his hometown club on loan.

He joined Latics in 1968 when he made his debut against Rhyl in the Northern Premier League. He went on to make well over 400 appearances and was the player of the season on two separate occasions.

A Gentleman on and off the field he was a fabulous ambassador for the club at all times.