Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR

ROCHDALE vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

4^th October 1980

SHAMBOLIC LATICS FALL TO DEFEAT.

The short trip to perennial strugglers Rochdale promised a respite from boardroom drama and a precious two points should bolster Wigans push for promotion. However, what followed was a ninety-minute horror show.                                                   

After the troubled build up to the game manager McNeill kept any disruption to a minimum and named the same starting XI, the only change was on the subs bench with Houghton replacing McMullan.                        

The home side came into the game on a run of poor form that had seen them gather just one point in their last four games, but, football is ‘ a funny old game’ and it was a night to tear up the form book as they simply overpowered Latics with a performance that was out of character with their recent showings.                                   

Wigan began slowly and Rochdale quickly got into their stride as five minutes into the game Hilditch brought a stunning reflex save from Ward. Hilditch went close again a few minutes later but this time he failed to hit the target when well placed. More chances followed as Rochdale turned up the heat, Wann saw an effort hacked off the line and Methven scrambled another goal bound shot to safety. Martinez was having a fine game on the wing and was twisting Curtis ‘every which way’                

Against the run of play Wigan suddenly created and squandered a fine chance when Corrigan, with time and space, scuffed his shot and the effort bobbled wide of the target.             

On 41 minutes Dale took the lead, and it was their Spanish winger, signed on aa free from Bradford City, who was the creator. He produced a sumptuous cross that picked out WANN and he headed firmly past Ward.

Half Time; Rochdale 1-0 Wigan Athletic.

The second half saw Houghton replacing Frank Corrigan, but Wigan remained second best all over the park as Rochdale increased the pressure. Martinez continued to lead the defence a merry dance as he wandered the width of the pitch before sliding a neat pass through for WANN to finish with ease and in so doing double the home sides advantage.                                         

Two goals adrift and Latics finally started to get their heads into the game and the switch to a 4-3-3 formation with Houghton probing down the wider channels finally started to look threatening to the home rearguard. However, the clinical finishing that had been on show against Halifax a few days earlier was now totally absent as Houghton and Micky Quinn missed good opportunities. Then as the game entered its closing stages HILDITCH added a third goal with an exquisite, curled shot that had Ward grasping at air as it bent perfectly into the top corner of the goal.                                                                                         

Wigan discipline was also a cause for concern as they picked up two more bookings with Davids (foul) and Hutchinson (dissent) making it sixteen yellow cards for the season.

Full Time; Rochdale 3-0 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Wann (43), (47), Hilditch (87);

Attendance; 3,479

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

ROCHDALE ---Crawford (G); Jones, Snookes, Esser, Burke; Taylor, Wann, O’Loughlin, Martinez; Hilditch, Wellings. SUBS; Weir

Referee; Mr. Derek T. Richardson (Lincoln).

Wigan now sit eighteenth in the table and with boardroom and dressing room unrest what had looked a promising start to the season was now, it seems, descending into chaos.