Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR

MANSFIELD TOWN vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

27^th September 1980

ERRORS GIFT WRAP THE POINTS FOR THE STAGS.

Christmas came three months early for the home side at Field Mill as Latics gift wrapped two points to their hosts.      

Latics named the same starting XI and the only change was the inclusion of ‘fit again midfielder’ George Urquhart for youngster Micky Quinn on the subs bench.                                                        

Despite keeping a settled team Wigan began in distinctly shaky fashion and the Stags piled on the early pressure as they sought the early breakthrough that arrived after 14 minutes. Austin used his pace to skip past a rather static Davids and drill a shot across the face of goal that was turned home by the arriving POLLARD at the back post.                    Two minutes later things got worse for the side from Springfield Park as a goalmouth scramble broke out in the Wigan area that only ended when Davids headed out weakly and HAMILTON was on hand to head the ball back with interest past Ward.                                           Mansfield were obviously delighted with their two-goal advantage but offered very little in attack thereafter as Wigan began to steadily grow into the contest.                                                                                                           

Wigan began to pass the ball around with much more purpose and McMullan was a constant threat in the wide areas with his pace and trickery. However, not for the first time this season, the finishing did not match up to the build up play and the lead remained intact at the break.

Half Time; Mansfield Town 2-0 Wigan Athletic.

Two minutes after the break and Hutchinson, who was having one of his better outings in Wigan blue, threaded a lovely ball to Wright but the midfielder failed to properly control the ball and his rushed shot was deflected behind for a corner kick.                                          

George Urquhart was introduced into the fray for the unlucky McMullan, but the change had the desired effect as the Scottish playmaker took more care on the ball and proceeded to produce several nice touches that stretched the home defences. But it was another midfielder, Frank Corrigan who produced the bit of magic that was required to create Wigan’s goal. Corrigan’s perfectly timed through ball made a nonsense of the Mansfield attempt to deploy the offside trap and HUTCHINSON took full toll with a fierce drive that Arnold could only watch as it flew into the goal.                                                                                         Suddenly the Mansfield defence looked ruffled, and an equaliser looked very much on the cards, but more half chances went begging as Wigan’s lack of a proven goalscorer again appeared obvious.                                                                                                               

Then, with time running out, and with more men thrown forward into attack, the inevitable happened. Mansfield broke quickly into the spaces, and Pollard unleashed a strong low shot that Ward blocked but was unable to gather and the in-rushing ALLEN headed home the rebound.

Full Time; Mansfield Town 3-1 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Hutchinson (66); Pollard (13), Hamilton (16), Allen (89).

Attendance; 3,402

Team; WIGAN—Ward (G); Curtis, Kettle, Methven, Davids; Gore, Corrigan, Wright, McMullan; Hutchinson, A. Quinn; SUBS; Urquhart (for McMullan).

MANSFIELD TOWN ---Arnold (G); Dawkins, Mann, Hamilton, McClelland; Bird, Allen, Phillips, Pollard; Austin, Parkinson. SUBS; Caldwell.

Referee; Mr. Darryl V. Reeves (Uxbridge).