Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs HALIFAX TOWN

12^th April 1980

DEBUT GOAL FOR QUINN PAVES ROAD TO IMPORTANT WIN.

Wigan had two big selection headaches ahead of this home match against Halifax. First, would Peter Houghton react well to treatment and be able to take up his attacking berth and secondly, would the board be able to come to an agreement with Middlesbrough and obtain the services of David Shearer until the end of the season. Waiting in the wings and hoping for his first call up to the first team squad was youth team striker Micky Quinn who had produced a number of impressive displays for the reserves in recent weeks.

17-year-old Liverpudlian Quinn was to find himself in the starting XI and he had a fine debut as he grabbed the opening goal and produced an all-action performance that could not fail to impress.

The early exchanges between the two sides suggested that Halifax would prove difficult to break down but that all changed on the half-hour when QUINN was in the right spot to take full advantage after a Whittle freekick had been headed on by Fretwell and Methven. The youngsters first snapshot was blocked by Kilner but he reacted quickly to stab home the rebound.

Quinn could easily have added to his tally but it was Halifax who got the ball into the net when Mountford headed home, only to see the effort ruled off for offside.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 1-0 Halifax Town.

The second half saw Quinn breaking quickly forward and after running all of thirty yards he struck a fierce drive that eluded Kilner but flew just the wrong side of the upright.

Latics were dominant but they were stunned on 63 minutes when a defensive mix-up allowed SMITH the chance to lift a lob over the stranded Brown to level the scores.

Latics, urged on by the shirt-sleeved crowd quickly responded with DAVIDS heading home an Urquhart cross to record his first goal for the club.

Wigan were now back in control and rarely looked like relinquishing their lead. Instead, they probed relentlessly to try and add to their advantage.

On 75 minutes HOUGHTON, who was clearly playing through the pain barrier, headed firmly past Kilner in the visitor’s goal after Corrigan had looped a header back into the danger zone.

Fretwell, who has still to record a goal in the blue and white stripes, twice went close with rising shots that just cleared the bar.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 3-1 Halifax Town.

Scorers; Quinn (30), Davids (65), Houghton (75); Smith (63).

Attendance; 5,076

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

HALIFAX TOWN--- Kilner; Dunleavy, Evans, Hutt, Burke; Smith, Firth, Kennedy, Stafford; Dryhurst, Mountford; SUB; --- Whiteley (for Stafford).

Referee; Mr. Alan Seville (Birmingham)

After his impressive debut youngster Quinn can count himself unlucky to not feature in the next game but Shearer’s loan had now been extended to the end of the season and he would return to the starting XI for the next match.