Report by SJG

CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

HYDE UNITED vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

15^th April 1933

WIGAN TAKE A HYDE-ING AS TITLE HOPES END.

The game at Hyde was a thing of threads and patches and on the day two very moderate teams struggled to produce any football of meaningful quality. A number of factors contributed to the lack of spectacle, the small ground, the uneven surface, an over fastidious referee, a flag happy linesman, and a number of players who seemed to want to play the man, not the ball. The game from start to finish was punctuated with free kicks and stoppages for foul play and there were repeated unedifying scenes with players contesting nearly every decision.

Wigan began the game well and an early cross from Hughes had to be smuggled behind for a corner. From the corner Jones planted a header on target but Travis was able to complete the save. Hyde then had a spell of pressure and Keers produced a tame shot when well placed. The strong cross wind and the hard ground were making constructive passing football difficult and a looped ball into the Latics box saw a melee develop with Abbott making a number of good saves and O’Dell being brave when blocking an effort from Cheetham.

Wigan produced another good attack with efforts from Jones and Chambers being smothered by the home defence.

Spencer had to produce some outstanding defence work to deny Rowbottam and Cheetham, and Abbott saved well from Rowbottam when he directed a Keers cross goalwards.

On 27 minutes Hyde took the lead, Fisher broke free and fed a through ball for CHEETHAM, and as Abbott advanced to narrow the angle the ex-Brighton, Swansea and Accrington man slipped the ball neatly into the net, despite the desperate, last-ditched attempts to clear from O’Dell.

Wigan tried to reply and a Hughes cross found Jones who saw his header well saved by Travis. Then on 32 minutes Hyde doubled their lead KEERS was sent through and was able to beat Abbott with a low shot as the Wigan defence claimed in vain for an offside against the United man.

A foul on Chambers near the edge of the box briefly offered Latics a way back into the game, but McCabe, who took the set play, rifled his effort against the woodwork and the home defence was able to clear.

Half Time; Hyde United 2-0 Wigan Athletic.

Five minutes into the second half Hyde had a chance to take a virtually unassailable advantage. Cheetham was upended by Spencer and when the penalty kick was awarded the ball was handed to Izon who fired wildly over the bar.

The penalty miss appeared to re-ignite some self-belief in Athletic who started to pile on some long overdue pressure. A corner was only partially cleared by the United defence and landed at Spencer who fired in a shot that Manifold managed to head clear.

Chambers, who was limping badly, was moved out to the wing with Hughes going as centre forward, this seemed to add pace and spark to the Wigan attack with Jones firing just over the bar, and then going close again with a header after a Chambers cross.

On 65 minutes, and somewhat against the run of play Hyde netted a third. A long punt from defence was collected by CHEETHAM and the forward deftly lobbed the ball over the outstretched arms of Abbot and into the Latics net.

Wigan did not let their heads drop and Jones fired a well struck shot against the home crossbar. Allon then forced a good save from Travis with a shot from distance.

Hyde did have chances to extend the lead and Abbott saved well from Thompson and Cheetham.

With eight minutes left on the clock Murphy produced a lovely cross and MCCABE headed past Travis from close range.

Wigan desperately searched for more goals and Spencer was pushed upfront to add weight to the forward line. Murphy then produced a neat run and shot that thudded against the post before the defence cleared.

Full Time; Hyde United 3-1 Wigan Athletic.

Attendance; 4,000

Scorers; Cheetham (27), (65), Keers (32); McCabe (82);

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

HYDE UNITED---Travis; Manifold, Astley; Heineman, Turner, Izon; Fisher, Rowbottam, Cheetham, Thompson, Keers;

Referee; Not Known