Report by SJG

CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs TRANMERE ROVERS RESERVES

13^th September 1933

LATICS GAIN REVENGE WITH A SOLID WIN IN A BRUISING ENCOUNTER.

Wigan managed to exact some revenge for the 3-2 loss at Prenton Park earlier in the month. The victory was built on a sound defence with O’Donnell and the half backs contributing greatly to the result with excellent displays.

Wigan began the game playing into the sun and the prevailing wind and thus it was Tranmere who enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges with Tonge firing across the face of the Latics goal.  After that early scare it was Wigan who began to control the midfield and a hefty challenge on Jones looked likely to result in a penalty but the referee waved play on. Jones then had to have lengthy treatment from the ambulance men and it was a while before he could rejoin the game and even then it was clear that he was not fully fit.  A neat passing movement down the Wigan left flank ended with O’Dell firing narrowly over the bar and then another neat move was only stopped when Lewis, who was prominent in the Rovers defence, stepped in to clear the danger. Jones had to leave the pitch for further treatment after another heavy Lewis challenge and the continual use of such rough-house tactics was serving to gain the ire of the crowd.

With Wigan a man short the visitors piled on the pressure and Tonge broke free on the flank and delivered a dangerous cross that had the Wigan defence at full stretch. Spencer and Glasper both had useful shots but O’Donnell, on each occasion, managed to get his body in the way and block the efforts. Wigan broke quickly and Quinn, with neat footwork, dribbled past Watson before finding Glidden who unleashed a shot that was just wide of the goal. A second strong appeal for a penalty, this time for handball, was turned down by the referee, but Latics were not to be denied and on 28 minutes they opened the scoring.  Tranmere only partly cleared an attack and the ball fell to Jones who despite his injuries produced a fine cross which Scott collected and pulled back for Glidden, he in turn found QUINN who slipped past Roper before netting from the tightest of angles.

Tranmere nearly grabbed a leveller before the break but Tonge’s shot after a fine pass by Spencer failed to find the target. Then more good play saw Tonge breaking forward but Kavanagh read the move perfectly and produced a fine interception.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 1-0 Tranmere Rovers Reserves.  

The second period started with Tranmere pushing forward but it was not long before Latics began to gain the upper-hand. The wind was now at Wigan’s backs and it helped them in laying siege to the visitor’s goal. One mad scramble in the goalmouth saw a number of shots being blocked and the melee only ended when Roper was able to push the ball behind for a corner. Tranmere were now being restricted to the odd breakaway but one nearly bore fruit when Gillespie found himself in space and only Caunce’s timely intervention kept the lead intact.

The game was still highly competitive and tempers flared following one shoulder charge and it was only the intervention of team mates that stopped Glidden and Thomas coming to blows. Felton and Glidden both had efforts that flew close to goal following good centre’s and it was no real surprise when on the hour mark Wigan doubled their lead. Quinn produced a fine cross and Jones seemed certain to score but an illegal challenge by the desperate, scrambling defence saw him upended and a penalty was awarded which FELTON despatched with aplomb.

O’Dell, Kavanagh and O’Donnell were keeping the defence water-tight and when the Rovers forwards did find shooting space the excellent Caunce was showing great handling skills. At the other end a long free-kick by O’Dell fell to Jones who was thwarted by Roper who dove bravely at his feet to smother the ball. Jones then fed a lovely ball for Glidden but the Latics forward was just too slow and Roper was able to rush from his goal and clear the danger.

Then on 83 minutes a long clearance by O’Donnell caught the Tranmere defence out of position and JONES was able to collect the ball and slide a shot past the advancing Roper.

Latics saw out the remaining minutes to retain their 100% home record and claim the two points to re-ignite their challenge for the title and move them up the table.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 3-0 Tranmere Rovers Reserves.

Scorers; Quinn (28), Felton (60, pen), Jones (83);

Attendance; 5,000

Team; WIGAN---Caunce; Robinson, O’Donnell; Kavanagh, O’Dell, Robson; Quinn, Felton, Glidden, Jones, Scott;

TRANMERE ROVERS RESERVES---Roper; Salter, Lewis; Meacock, Thomas, Watson; Pearson, Gillespie, E. W. Spencer, Glasper, Tonge;

Referee; H. Helme (Farnworth)