Report by SJG

CHESHIRE COUNTY CUP

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs MANCHESTER NORTH END

28^th April 1933

MANCHESTER NORTH BRING CUP DREAM TO AN END.

In front of a crowd of 8,200 who paid gate receipts of £213 to watch the spectacle Wigan were sent crashing out of the cup at the semi-final stage despite dominating long periods of the game. The result was a huge disappointment, especially with the final having been scheduled for Springfield Park. Wigans dominance of general play is shown by the corner count which was 20-2 in favour of the Latics, but the only statistic that mattered was the goals scored.

Wigan began brightly but Murphy saw an early shooting chance thwarted by the ex-Manchester United player Steward in the visitor’s goal. On eight minutes Latics had a golden opportunity to take the lead. A McCabe shot from 20 yards was handled in the box by Holt and the referee, without hesitation, awarded a spot kick. McCabe stepped forward to take the kick but fired wide of the target. It was a bad miss fraught with possible serious consequences.

Murphy had a good shot palmed away by Steward and at the other end Davies had to be quick in rushing from his line to save from Bailey. The game was a lively encounter with play switching from end to end and Jamieson in the centre half role was being kept busy.

On 18 minutes Latics grabbed the opening goal that their general play had deserved. Murphy tricked his way past Holt and Nolan before passing to Chambers, the forward took the ball to the by-line and pulled back a cross that was met by the head of HUGHES.

North End quickly pushed forward, in search of an instant leveller. Davies had to produce a smart save from a Broadhurst shot, he initially palmed the ball into the air, but he was able to recover before the ball was claimed by the on-rushing forward. On 21 minutes Manchester found an equaliser, WORSLEY picked up a loose ball and after checking inside, unchallenged, he fired home from close-range.

Chambers went close to regaining the lead but Steward produced a good diving save, low to his left, and turned the ball behind for a corner. Allon, Chambers and Hughes combined well and looked likely to threaten but top defending by Holdsworth and Norton ensured that the attack came to nothing. Hughes saw a shot fisted clear, and Jones produced several probing passes that stretched the visitor’s defences. Then on 37 minutes Wigan fell behind, a long ball into the area by Holt should have been easily cleared but Davies left the task of clearing to Jamieson who misjudged the flight of the ball and WORSLEY nipped in to fire home. The goal unsettled the home side and for a period of time it was Manchester who looked the most likely to find the net again.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 1-2 Manchester North End.

Wigan began the second period on the front foot and a lovely run by McCabe enabled him to fire in a snap shot but Steward was equal to the effort. Back came North End and Davies had to save from Broadhurst. However, it was the home side that were controlling most of the game and the lively wingers were testing the visitors with their speed and dribbling prowess. Murphy was fed in by Chambers but his shot on the run was just off target, then Hughes produced a centre that was flicked on by McCabe to Jones whose shot was weak and easily dealt with. A quick throw in saw Jones attempt a first-time hooked shot but the ball passed over the bar.

Wigan should have been awarded a leveller when on 80 minutes, Jones broke forward and despite being tripped by a desperate defender he recovered his balance to feed Murphy who found the back of the net. The referee, however, called play back and awarded Wigan a free kick for the trip. Wigan continued to push hard and McCabe saw a near post effort turned behind. The visitors were penned in and had to defend well against a string of corner kicks. Chambers who had been well shackled by Holt finally found enough space to fire in a shot but Norton managed to get his body in the way and deflect the ball to safety.

Two minutes later and any sense of injustice was multiplied when a long clearance by Morgan found BROADHURST who held off Callachan and buried the chance beyond Davies in the Wigan net.

Latics continued to throw players forward as they tried to keep their hopes of silverware alive but Steward was dominant in the away goal.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 1-3 Manchester North End.

Attendance; 8,200

Scorers; Hughes (18); Worsley (21), (37), Broadhurst (82);

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

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

Referee; T. W. Doig (Birkenhead)