Report by SJG

CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

MANCHESTER NORTH END   vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

26^th December 1932

A WELL-EARNED POINT.

Turkey and mince pies all eaten and it was time for Latics to make the trip to the Charles Street ground in Blackley to take on the league leaders.

The pitch was in good condition, but the cold conditions had given rise to a covering of fog that worsened as the game progressed, and which made viewing difficult at times.

The game set off at a rattling pace with both sides keen to draw first blood in a crucial encounter given the sides relative placings in the table.

Chambers sent an early shot just wide, and then Valentine, for the hosts, found space but excellent defensive covering by O’Dell ensured that nothing came of the half chances. Jamieson had a snap shot that had Steward in the home goal scrambling, however the effort passed just wide of the post.

Another promising move by the North End, after 15 minutes of play, was snuffed out by O’Dell, but in doing so the Wigan man had clearly injured himself and he left the field as he was unable to continue.

Despite being short on numbers, the Wigan defence, which is officially the meanest in the League having conceded only 20 goals, kept a tight rein on the Manchester forward line. When the defensive line was breached Davies showed good handling and provided a stern barrier.

North End, perhaps having seen how effective the offside trap had been for Runcorn, depended on their well drilled rearguard and the linesman’s flag to frustrate the Wigan attack. This ploy was effective until on 40 minutes McCabe fed the ball through to Chambers, he played it out wide to Hughes and when the cross came into the penalty area JAMIESON met it sweetly to fire Latics into the lead.

Half Time; Manchester North End 0-1 Wigan Athletic.

The second period began with the North End pushing forward as they looked to turn the game around. Valentine flashed a shot across the face of goal, and then Davies spilled a cross as he came under heavy pressure from Birch, but Callachan was able to clear the danger. On 55 minutes the home side deservedly drew level. Valentine jinked past Wake and Callachan before lobbing the ball into the area, and as Davies came to collect the cross he was beaten to it by BIRCH who headed the ball over the stranded keeper into the net. The league leaders were now dominant and were making their extra man count as they launched a series of attacks. The Wigan defence stood firm and repelled all borders, one goal-bound effort struck Jamieson full in the face, leaving the Wigan man dazed.

Wigan did have some moments of note at the other end of the pitch and Chambers was perhaps unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when he appeared to be barged off the ball in the act of shooting.

The fog, which had been in evidence all afternoon was now growing thicker and the game must have been close to being abandoned as the spectators were struggling to follow the action.

With time running out the North End became more and more committed to attack and only brave work by Spencer and his fellow defenders held them in check. Davies came in for some rough treatment by the home forwards, but despite this he continued to bravely deny the home side the goal that they craved.

Steward at the other end, who had earlier in his career represented Manchester United, was by and large a spectator (if he could see through the fog). Steward would play for Manchester North End in the cup final in 1932-33, and in a strange twist of fate he would also represent Altrincham in the same final. This was because the initial final ended in a 3-3 draw and the replay was held over until the following season, by then Steward had signed for Altrincham as player-manager.

Full Time; Manchester North End 1-1 Wigan Athletic.

Attendance; 4,000

Scorers; Jamieson (40); Birch (55);

Team; WIGAN-- Davies; O’Dell, Callachan; Wake, Spencer, Allon; Hughes, Chambers, McCabe, Jamieson, Murphy;  

MANCHESTER NORTH END—Steward; Norton, Brown; Heyworth, Holt, Morgan; Valentine, Gregory, Broadhurst, Birch, Walker.

Referee; J. Roscoe. (Bolton).

The Christmas programme had not been nice to Wigan, three games in four days and after two tough away trips next up was another tricky engagement with high flying Hyde United.