Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR

SCUNTHORPE UNITED vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

29^th March 1980

GORE STRIKES EARLY TO RUIN BOTHAM DEBUT AND END UNITED RUN.

Wigans trip to the Old Showground to take on in-form Scunthorpe United could not have got off to a better start as with just 90 seconds on the clock Jeff Wright pinged a precise 30-yard pass that picked out GORE and he found space to attack the area and squeeze a low shot past the advancing Gordon in the home goal.

The Irons came into the game on a six-game unbeaten run and they reacted well to the early set-back, but for all their effort they rarely threatened the Wigan goal and it took an uncharacteristic error by John Brown to gift the home side an equaliser.

Brown failed to collect a bobbling shot from CAMMACK and he allowed the ball to slip from his grasp which allowed the striker to slide the rebound home.

On 38 minutes Wright produced another telling pass that released the hard-working Houghton and when the ex-South Liverpool man unleashed a low shot Gordon was only able to parry the ball into the path of SHEARER who managed to out-muscle Deere and force the ball home.

Half Time; Scunthorpe United 1-2 Wigan Athletic.

Wigan continued to boss the early exchanges in the second half and it was ten minutes before the hordes of watching press photographers got their wish with Ian Terrance Botham entering the fray to replace the injured Davy.

The change in personnel enlivened the crowd and the Scunthorpe side as Latics had to withstand a period of sustained pressure.

Botham’s approach to football mirrored his approach to cricket with 100% effort and commitment but Wigans centre halves coped well with the robust challenge and gradually Latics reasserted their dominance on proceedings.

Wigans right side always looked a threatening and Fretwell carved out a fine chance but he and Shearer both hesitated and the defence was able to scramble the ball clear. Houghton went close with a header that struck the upright and Whittle twice tried his luck from tight angles only to fire into the side netting.

Methven saw a deft header cleared off the goal-line and Shearer blazed over the bar from yet another opportunity.

It took until the 84^th minute for Latics to put some distance between the sides on the scoreboard.

Houghton produced a good run and cross and when Deere failed to clear SHEARER pounced to fire home from a tight angle.

Shearer had one late chance to complete a hat-trick but Deere produced a robust challenge and the Middlesborough loanee was unable to get in an effective shot.

Full Time; Scunthorpe United 1-3 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Gore (2), Shearer (38), (84); Cammack (22).

Attendance; 2,140

Team; WIGAN—Brown; Fretwell, Whittle, Davids, Methven; Gore, Wright, Corrigan, Urquhart; Houghton, Shearer; SUB; --- Moore

SCUNTHORPE UNITED--- Gordon; Davy, Peacock, Kavanagh, Deere; Oates, Cowling, Partridge, Stewart; Cammack, Pilling; SUB; --- I.T. Botham (for Davy).

Referee; Mr. B. Hill (Wellingborough).