Report by SJG

CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs MANCHESTER NORTH END

8^th April 1933

A POINT LOST AS NORTH END PRODUCE A LATE RALLY.

This good Friday encounter was a lively affair and a decent crowd of 6,783 turned out to observe the spectacle. Latics really should have ended the ninety minutes with two points safely in the bag, but a late Manchester rally saw them grab two goals in the last five minutes and thus claim a share of the points.

The Athletic took the lead after just ten minutes when a well-directed free kick by Spencer picked out MCCABE and he fired home. The game had developed into a lively affair with both goalmouths seeing plenty of action. Chambers headed just wide, then Wake grazed the bar with a powerful shot, but on 20 minutes GREGORY looped a header against the inside of the Wigan post and Abbott was completely deceived as the ball entered the net. Hughes then centred to Jones who had his snap shot fisted away by Steward and Chambers, following up, went close. Steward also saved well from McCabe to keep the scores level, and at the other end Worsley got free of his marker but Spencer was quick to react to the danger and close down the Manchester man.

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

Wigan began the second period in dominant style, and within five minutes they had re-established their advantage. A shot by Jones was deflected behind for a corner and Murphy delivered an accurate flag kick that found Wake at the back post. Wake headed the ball back into the centre and NORTON had the misfortune to miscue an attempted clearance into his own net. Later McCabe sent a free-kick just wide and Allon had a beauty tipped over by Steward. Steward also produced a smart save to deny Hughes who had dribbled into the area but could not squeeze his shot past the big keeper.

Chambers, as usual, was coming in for a lot of rough treatment but the referee was very lenient and allowed the defenders quite a bit of licence. McCabe had a shot that beat Steward but struck the foot of the post, and then Chambers shot just wide from a Hughes cross.

A breakaway run and clever cross by Birch nearly found the head of Broadhurst, but the ex- Manchester City and Blackpool forward, just failed to make a telling connection.

McCabe was tripped right on the edge of the penalty area and Allon struck a powerful free kick that Steward had to be alert to save.

On 85 minutes Murphy passed inside to Jones who headed across the face of the Manchester goal and HUGHES arrived at pace before diving to plant a low header into the goal. The game and the points seemed safe, but North End rallied and in a barnstorming finish they piled forward towards the Wigan goal. Abbott saved well from Bailey, then when Birch and Bailey combined to get the better of O’Dell in the Wigan defence Birch found the space to whip in a centre and GREGORY headed home. Abbott was suddenly a busy man, and he made a fine stop from Bailey in the final minute of the game as he palmed a shot around his post.

The reprieve was short lived, and from the resulting corner GREGORY forced the ball home to grab an unlikely point for the visitors and in so doing he also became the first player to record a hat-trick against Wigan Athletic.

Albert Gregory was born in New Moston in 1913 and made a total of 15 league appearances, six for Bury and nine for Rochdale he also played in one FA Cup tie for Bury.  He never scored in his short professional career.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 3-3 Manchester North End.

Attendance; 6,783

Scorers; McCabe (10), Norton (49, OG), Hughes (85); Gregory (20), (87), (90);

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

MANCHESTER NORTH END---Steward; Norton, Holdsworth; Heyworth, Holt, Morgan; Worsley, Gregory, Broadhurst, Bailey, Birch;

Referee; Mr. D. McGarty (Northwich)