Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR

DARLINGTON vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

13^th September 1980

STALKER HAT-TRICK DERAILS LETHARGIC LATICS

Wigan went into this game on something of a high with their club record new signing, Brian Kettle, making his debut and with back-to-back League wins and clean sheets under their belt.

Jim Oliver and Brian Kettle came into the starting XI to replace the injured Peter Houghton, and Maurice Whittle but the changes failed to inspire, and the Quakers had the better of the game from first whistle to last.

The home side benefitted from the energy of the youngster David Speedie in the midfield and in Scottish striker John Stalker they had a forward who was enjoying the best night of his young career.

Wigan got off to a promising start and their early pressure exposed deficiencies in the home rearguard with McClean and Wilson both looking distinctly uncomfortable when deprived of time on the ball. It was MCCLEAN who gifted Wigan an equaliser at the mid-point of the first half, when Fretwell fired a hopeful low cross into the box and defender turned the ball past his own keeper with no Wigan forward in sight. Earlier, in the fifteenth minute STALKER had put the hosts ahead when he outpaced Davids and lifted a shot over an advancing Brown.

Half Time; Darlington 1-1 Wigan Athletic.

Despite being well below their best Latics always seemed more than capable of claiming the points, and McMullan wasted a golden chance shortly after the restart when he produced a jinking run that saw him finding space and he curled his shot past the diving keeper and past the far post.

In the 77^th minute Latics were made to pay the ultimate price for their lack of clinical finishing when STALKER broke clean through from the halfway line and calmly waited for Brown to commit to a dive before lobbing the ball beyond the Wigan man and into the net for an excellent goal.

Wigan threw men forward in the search for a late equaliser and the introduction of Glenn for a tired looking Oliver certainly added some pace to the attacking movement.

Glenn came closest when he flashed a shot, from the tightest of angles, that struck the face of the crossbar. But other chances also came and went with Davids and Corrigan both sending headers wide of the goal.

The Darlington defence, well organised by the experienced Peter Skipper (pictured), was now working overtime to ensure the lead remained intact.

Then in the final minutes, with Wigan committing everything to attack the home side produced a classic counterattack. STALKER raced past Methven and fired in a fierce low shot that Brown was able to block with his legs, but the striker was quickest to the rebound and fired home from ten yards to secure the home win.

Full Time; Darlington 3-1 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Stalker (15), (77), (89); McClean (OG,23).

Attendance; 2,020

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

DARLINGTON ---Barry (G); Kamara, Wilson, Ball, Skipper; Speedie, Hawker, Charlton, McClean; Stalker, Walsh. SUBS; Smith.

Referee; Mr. A. Challinor (Maltby, Rotherham).

Manager Ian McNeill declared himself ‘far from happy’ with his team’s performance and was quick to point to the lack of goals as his main concern.  However, the manager remained positive and upbeat and the imminent return of key men like Urquhart, Houghton, Whittle and Curtis still augers well for the season as a whole.