Report by SJG

QUINN FINDS THE GOAL-DEN TOUCH

Wigan claimed a well deserved and very precious win at a rain-soaked Shay. However, the win should not be allowed to paper over the cracks that still clearly exist.                              

The Wigan fans had endured another 88 minutes of frustration before substitute Tony QUINN popped up to head home a Corrigan cross from close range.                                       

Despite the newspaper reports that predicted wholesale changes to the squad the manager chose to stick to most of the team that had performed so poorly at Darlington and the only changes saw Tony Quinn coming in to replace Jim Oliver and John Curtis coming in to replace Dave Fretwell.

Micky Quinn took over from David Glenn, who had picked up a knock, on the substitutes bench.

Wigan had been by far the stronger side in the first period and made light of the heavy rain and cloying mud to create enough chances to have been at least four goals clear by the break.

The conditions for the game can only be described as awful and the whole of the game was played in heavy rain that sent the away fans scurrying under the trees at one end of the ground for cover.

The stewards who initially were resolute in not allowing the Wigan fans under the covered section eventually relented and the hardy souls were grateful for the respite from the downpour.

With just six minutes played Quinn spurned a fine chance when he planted his header straight inro the grateful arms of Kilner and the keeper was perfectly positioned again a few moments later to again deny the Liverpudlian.

McMullan then went close with a glorious chance, but his shot flew wide of the target.

Latics continued to press and Wright played a perfect through ball to pick out Kettle who timed his run precisely and found himself one on one with time and space to spare, but he fired into the side netting.

Half Time: Halifax Town 0 Wigan Athletic 0

As the game went on Wigan had an alarm when keeper Brown collided heavily with Harris following a corner and after treatment heavy strapping was applied to his leg and whilst he was clearly inconvenienced by the injury, he soldiered on bravely.

Fortunately, Halifax were not carrying much threat in attack, and the Wigan custodian was largely a spectator, however he was called upon once to make a fingertip save to deny Hendrie.                                 

Neil Davids was having a solid game in defence and was dominating in the air while Curtis was having an assured game upon his return from injury.

The referee was making very little allowance for the conditions, and he was quickly filling up his notebook as he booked Gore, McMullan, Davids and Methven and on each occasion, it was clear that the conditions had added to the offences committed.

It was not a dirty game by any means, but the young referee was having something of a personal nightmare.

In fact he actually managed to play 54 minutes in the first half, and we can only conjecture that his watch had stopped or had become waterlogged.

The rain was finally beginning to relent as the match entered its closing stages and Corrigan ploughed down the muddy wing before delivering a near post cross that Quinn anticipated well, and he stole in front of his marker to direct a deft header into the net and finally claim the win.

Full Time: Halifax Town 0 Wigan Athletic 1