Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs HALIFAX TOWN.

1^st October 1980

LATICS FIND THEIR ‘GOAL-DEN TOUCH’.

Shot-shy Wigan struck the goal trail with a vengeance as they surged to a 4-1 victory against the league’s bottom placed club, Halifax Town.                 

Micky Quinn and George Urquhart returned to the starting XI in place of Tony Quinn and Dave McMullan, with the later dropping to the bench.

Wigan began slowly and seemed hesitant in their passing but gradually they settled to their task and on the forty-minute mark the game finally sprang into life. The youngster Mickey QUINN, who had been busy in attack latched onto a fine through ball by Curtis and lashed a fierce low drive past the stranded Kilner.        Latics now took control and just before the break a neat one-two between KETTLE and Wright saw the full back into space and he slotted his effort calmly into the net.                            

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 2-0 Halifax Town.

Latics continued to apply more pressure after the interval and on 56 minutes Hutchinson set Corrigan free on the left wing, and he produced a sweeping cross that evaded two Halifax defenders but was perfect for the arriving QUINN whose flying header flew into the net via the post.                                                                                                                             

This was not a game of many chances, but what it did showcase was excellent finishing by a Wigan side who showed that clinical cutting edge that so often has deserted them. Halifax offered little in attack, and they mustered only two efforts of note with Nattress and Firth both being denied.                                                                                                                   

Wigan’s fourth goal was probably the pick of the bunch as URQUHART, who was just returning from long term injury, collected the ball on halfway before setting off on a mazy dribble that took him past three or four Halifax defenders before planting his shot beyond Kilner and into the Halifax net.                                                                                       

Wigan had a penalty appeal turned down when Hutchinson raced into space and was clearly hauled down by the covering defender, Harris, but the referee waved play on.

It was not all plain sailing for Latics as Hutchinson and Urquhart both saw yellow for overzealous tackles and in the closing minutes the Shaymen deprived Wigan of what would have been their biggest ever League win by grabbing a late consolation goal.                         

The ball fell lose in the Wigan area and the defence appeared to ‘switch off’ as FIRTH stole in and fired home his seventh goal of the season past a flat-footed Ward.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 4-1 Halifax Town.

Scorers; M. Quinn (41), (53), Kettle (44), Urquhart (80); Firth (88);

Attendance; 4,278

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

HALIFAX TOWN ---Kilner (G); Nattress, Burton, Ward, Harris; Dunleavy, Firth, Johnson, O’ Neill; Hendrie, Allatt. SUBS; Goodman (for Ward).

Referee; Mr. Alan Seville (Birmingham).