Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR

NORTHAMPTON TOWN vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

19^th April 1980

WIGANS HOPES FOR LATE PROMOTION SURGE DASHED.

Any lingering hopes of promotion were dashed at the County Ground in Northampton as the two sides produced a dour stalemate of a game that only sprang into life in the final five minutes.

Latics went into the game without Corrigan and in his place youngster Micky Quinn found himself added to the forward line with Houghton dropping into a deeper role.

Young 19-year-old midfielder Dave McMullen was named as substitute and he was handed a debut as he came on to replace David Fretwell in the 20^th minute, who was struggling with a groin injury.

The pitch was hard and bumpy and certainly did not help the game to flow but Latics created enough chances in the first period to have tied up a win.

Houghton had a great chance in the opening exchanges but failed to take advantage of the opportunity and Whittle had a thunderous drive well saved by the diving Poole who turned the effort over the bar.

The home side had their moments as well and Methven and Fretwell were both called upon to make goal saving clearances.

Wigan did have the better of the opening half with Quinn and Urquhart impressing against their respective markers.

Half Time; Northampton Town 0-0 Wigan Athletic.

The second half followed a similar pattern with much of the play being scrappy in nature and it seemed inevitable that the tie would meander to a fairly uneventful draw.

The Northampton breakthrough took everyone by surprise except for the alert SERGEANT who ran onto a long, wind-assisted, clearance and despite looking suspiciously offside he showed great calmness as he jinked past Brown and fired home from 18 yards.

It took Latics less than a minute to respond as a Wright free kick was flicked on by the head of Houghton, and SHEARER, who had been kept quiet for most of the game, was there to steer the ball home from close range.

Full Time; Northampton Town 1-1 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Shearer (86); Sargent (85).

Attendance; 2,378

Team; WIGAN—Brown; Fretwell, Whittle, Davids, Methven; Gore, Wright, M. Quinn, Urquhart; Shearer, Houghton; SUB; --- McMullen (for Fretwell).

NORTHAMPTON TOWN--- Poole; Walker, Sandercock, Saunders, Gage; Denyer, Farrington, Sandy, McCaffrey; Sergeant, Ingram; SUB; --- Ward

Referee; Mr. J. Martin (Hampshire)