Report by SJG

CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs STALYBRIDGE CELTIC

18^th March 1933

A VITAL POINT DROPPED BY CARELESS WIGAN.

Wigan announced an unchanged XI for the visit of Stalybridge, and the hope was that another victory could apply further pressure to the leading clubs in the title race.

Manchester North End had suffered back-to-back defeats and it seems that their challenge is faltering.

A crowd of 6,500 turned out to watch the contest that was played in dry but slightly blustery conditions. Wigan monopolised the play for the vast majority of the ninety minutes and only a mixture of good defending, top class goalkeeping and profligate finishing that resulted in the points being shared.

The Celtic inside right, Aspin, was making his debut, having only signed from Nelson F.C. the previous day.

Wigan began brightly and an early Murphy cross had to be collected by Cope in the away goal. The home side pressed looking for an early goal that would settle any nerves, but it was the visitors who were to provide the first score of the day. On the five-minute mark a long ball by Bell found Stevenson out wide and he set off on a solo run that O’Dell quickly moved to shut down. STEVENSON showed good strength to hold off the challenge and produce a powerful cross shot that entered the net via the far post.

Wigan quickly got back into control, but for all their possession they only worked Cope on two occasions, once when Jones warmed the keeper’s hands with a well struck effort and then again when Hughes had a strong header well saved by the ex-Barnsley man.

On 17 minutes Wigan levelled, a good run and cross by Murphy found JONES who netted with a first time shot.

The game had now developed into an even contest, with play switching back and forth as both sides played some neat passing football and stretched the respective defences at every opportunity. Clifford won a corner for the visitors after an exciting burst, and from the flag kick Stevenson shot narrowly the wrong side of the post. Wigan then missed a sitter, Chambers drew Cope from his goal before passing inside to find Jones, however, with the goal gaping the inside forward somehow contrived to head wide of the target. On 35 minutes, Turner was adjudged to have handled the ball in his own area and MCCABE accepted the gift by firing home. Wigan barely had time to celebrate their lead before the scores were again levelled.  A fast attack saw Stalybridge pour forward in numbers and HURST grabbed the equaliser.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 2-2 Stalybridge Celtic.

The game restarted with Wigan pressing hard and the Latics won a number of free kicks as the Celtic defence, and Turner in particular decided to be more physical. McCabe and Hughes certainly felt the change in the defensive approach as both needed treatment after one especially bruising passage of play. Celtic then had a goal disallowed when Hurst broke through but he chose to pass to his fellow attackers who were stood offside and while they sent the ball into the net it was clear that it would not stand.

Chambers, Wake and Murphy linked well to create a golden chance for the Wigan striker, but his shot was hurried and passed over the bar. Another Celtic breakaway caught Wigan with limited numbers in defence and O’Dell chose to deliberately handle the ball to avoid the move developing further. Turner took the set play, but his shot was off target. Latics had another close call when a pass from Callachan to Spencer went astray and only quick work from Abbott avoided a concession.

Wake had an effort from distance that was only narrowly off target, then Hughes jinked past both Bell and Broadhurst before shooting just wide. As the game entered its final stages Wigan had two great chances to claim both points, first Allon played a neat free kick to Jones and only a fantastic last ditch save by Cope denied the Wigan man, then Chambers was only prevented from a certain score by a brave intervention by the Celtic shot-stopper.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 2-2 Stalybridge Celtic.

Attendance; 6,500

Scorers; Jones (17), McCabe (35, pen); Stevenson (5), Hurst (37);

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

STALYBRIDGE CELTIC—Cope; Briggs, Whittaker; Scholes, Turner, Bell; Clifford, Aspin, Hurst, Broadhurst, Stevenson;

Referee; Mr. S. Boardman (Birkenhead)

A point was not what the Wigan fans had been hoping for, but the news that Macclesfield had lost against Manchester North End and Port Vale had been held to a draw by Sandbach Ramblers.

The results meant that the title race was still very much wide open.