Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs PORT VALE

6^th September 1980

LATICS LIGHT THE BLUE TOUCH PAPER—AND START TO CLIMB TABLE.

Wigan made it back-to-back league wins with another solid performance against a workmanlike Port Vale side.                  

Latics welcomed Frank Corrigan back to the starting XI and he replaced Micky Quinn who can perhaps consider himself unfortunate after performing admirably in the absence of the senior man. Corrigan certainly wasted no time in getting back into the fray and his probing runs and aggressive tackling were quickly evident.                                                            

Peter Houghton pulled a muscle in the early exchanges and after struggling to overcome the handicap he made way for 17-year-old apprentice David Glenn who made his first team debut off the substitutes bench. The youngster was probably unknown to most of the Wigan faithful, but at the end of the ninety minutes he had certainly done enough to ensure that he will not be forgotten any time soon.                                                   

With McMullan (20) on one flank and Glenn (17) on the other Latics had pace and trickery to burn and the youngsters provided a steady stream of crosses that could, and should, have seen the home side record a much more convincing victory.

The vital goal arrived in the 20^th minute from a free kick which was awarded for an obstruction on Houghton. Corrigan played the ball to the side and GORE blasted his shot beyond Harrison and into the Vale net.                  

Earlier in the game Methven had produced a towering header that was hacked off the line by a defender and Wright had gone close with a lobbed effort that beat the keeper but just cleared the bar.

The Valiants went close to an equaliser on the stroke of half time when Sproson headed past Brown, but Wright got back to clear off the line.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 1-0 Port Vale.

In the second half Wigan improved and controlled almost all the play, but what was lacking, just as against Aldershot, was that goal-den touch in front of goal. Corrigan went close with a header (pictured right), and Bobby Hutchinson, who was a real handful throughout the game and who should have benefited from the steady stream of crosses, simply could not get his headers onto the target.   

Wigan’s failure to put the game to bed nearly cost them dear as Port Vale threw men forward in the closing stages and on several occasions, they went close.   However, the Latics defence, well marshalled by the impressive Davids, refused to buckle and the precious two points remained in Wigans possession.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 1-0 Port Vale.

Scorers; Gore (20);

Attendance; 4,678

Team; WIGAN—Brown (G); Fretwell, Whittle, Methven, Davids; Gore, Corrigan, Wright; Hutchinson, Houghton, McMullan; SUBS; Glenn (for Houghton).

PORT VALE ---Harrison (G); Keenan, Griffiths, Beech, Bowles, Sproson, Jones, Farrell, Brissett, Chamberlain, Bromage. SUBS; Elsby (for Brissett)

Referee; Mr. Alan Saunders (Newcastle-upon-Tyne)