Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR

CREWE ALEXANDRIA vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

4^th April 1980

PROMOTION HOPES DE-RAILED BY RAILWAYMEN.

Easter is often the time when promotion and relegation issues are resolved with teams playing three tough games in four days.

On paper the first game of the three for Latics should have been the easiest as they faced a short trip to play a Crewe side that had been marooned in the re-election zone for most of the season, however, as Brian Clough once noted, ‘football is played on grass not paper’.

A strong following of over 2500 Latics fans made the journey and even the news that Shearer would not recover from a knock in time to make the starting line-up failed to dampen spirits.

Wigan began on the front foot and it took only fourteen minutes to achieve the break-through. Gore looped a cross into the Crewe penalty area and when the weak clearing header fell to CORRIGAN, on the edge of the box, he drilled a low shot that found the bottom corner.

At this stage in proceedings Latics looked to be in complete control but gradually they lost their way with uncharacteristic sloppy passing allowing the hosts to grow in confidence, such that, it was no great surprise in the 40^th minute when they found the equaliser.

Guy found oceans of space in behind the Wigan back four and his far post cross went over the static Davids and the late arriving DAVIES powered his header home.

Half Time; Crewe Alexandra 1-1 Wigan Athletic.

The second half saw Wigan trying hard to rediscover their early dominance, but errors continued to thwart their attacks and in the 56^th minute Crewe were handed a golden opportunity when Davids presented Guy with a clear run on goal. Brown in the Wigan net responded quickly and sprinted from his line to block the shot and palm the effort behind for a corner.

Wigan did create a number of chances but good goalkeeping by the young Zimbabwe born keeper (who would go on to have a stellar career with Liverpool) and poor finishing meant that the scores remain tied. Wright miskicked in front of goal when well placed to score and Houghton blazed another opportunity wildly over the crossbar.

At the other end Wigan continued to produce defensive mistakes and an under-hit back pass by Urquhart let in Nelson whose shot was brilliantly saved by Brown.

On 75 minutes Wigan luck ran out and when Wright was slow to clear a corner he was quickly dispossessed by Wilkinson and his precise cross was headed home by PALIOS.

The home side suddenly sensed an unexpected win and closed ranks as Wigans attacks became more-and-more desperate.

Methven saw his looping header float over the Crewe keeper but Bowers produced some fine acrobatics to clear the ball off the goal-line.

Micky Moore replaced the increasingly frustrated Quinn with 13 minutes to go but still the goal would not come.

With five minutes left on the clock Wright latched onto a Corrigan through ball but his shot lacked power and Grobbelaar was able to collect.

Full Time; Crewe Alexandria 2-1 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Corrigan (14); Davies (40), Palios (75).

Attendance; 5,632

Team; WIGAN—Brown; Fretwell, Whittle, Davids, Methven; Gore, Wright, Corrigan, Urquhart; Houghton, A. Quinn; SUB; --- Moore (for Quinn).

CREWE ALEXANDRIA--- Grobbelaar; Wilkinson, Bowers, Hunter, Scott; Prophett, McMahon, Guy, Nelson; Davies, Palios; SUB; --- Coyne

Referee; Mr. David W. Lloyd (Worcester).