Report by SJG

F. A. CUP

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs GREAT HARWOOD

16^th September 1933

A TALE OF TWO ‘GIFT’ GOALS AS ATHLETIC MAKE THEIR F.A. CUP DEBUT

Wigan started the game as clear favourites against the team from the West Lancashire League, but cup football is delightfully unpredictable.  In their first season Latics had not been formed early enough to gain entry to the F.A. Cup so this was their first excursion into the competition that would give them some of their finest moments in future years.

This game certainly started well enough, with a crowd of just over 3,000 turning out to see Latics field an unchanged XI and claim an early goal as in the first minute a long punt by O’Donnell was helped on by the of O’Dell to Felton who lobbed an effort at goal. The keeper Mitchell came to collect but

HARGREAVES leapt to try and head away and in so doing he glanced the ball into his own net to gift Wigan the opening goal. The visitors looked shaken and three minutes later Jones forced the ball home again after a fumble from Mitchell, only for the Wigan man to be flagged as offside.

Wigan were dominant and Glidden fluffed his lines with the goal at his mercy as he fired wide. Felton had better luck as he latched onto another chance and slotted home but the flag again was raised to rule off the effort. A Wigan corner found the head of Glidden who flashed a header just past the post, then a snap shot by Kavanagh brought a good diving save from Mitchell, who also saved well from Glidden. Great Harwood were not without chances of their own with Caunce fisting clear from a corner kick, and Roberts and Howarth both failing to hit the target with decent opportunities.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 1-0 Great Harwood.  

Early in the second period Jones broke through the visitor’s offside trap and with just the keeper to beat he fired a fast shot that thundered against the crossbar before bouncing to safety. Scott produced a tricky run that saw him past his marker before he fired into the net, but the referee pulled play back and awarded a handball.  Great Harwood had a good chance when Roberts slipped past Robinson, but Caunce was quick off his line and he narrowed the angle such that the striker could only shoot into the side netting.  Wigans frustration was growing as they could not find the vital second goal, Jones headed into the net but the referee again ruled it out as the ball was deemed to have gone out of play in the build-up. Then Mitchell produced a fine double save to deny Felton.

Wigans failure to put the ‘game to bed’ was to prove costly as Harwood, in the 67^th minute found a leveller. Shaw lobbed a cross into the homesters area, and Carter fired a speculative effort at goal. Caunce had the situation under control, but O’DONNELL leapt across to try and head the effort away and in so doing he diverted the ball into the Wigan net.

Latics pushed on in a desperate search for a winning goal but Mitchell in the Great Harwood nets was on fine form and was applauded by many in the crowd for his dextrous display. Felton slipped between two defenders and fired in a firm shot from an acute angle but Mitchell spread himself and the ball bounced clear via his outstretched foot.  Scott and Felton both had further efforts well saved, then in the dying minutes Great Harwood had a chance on the counter attack when Archie Howarth, a pacey winger signed from Nelson, ran clear but his shot was rushed and flew over the bar.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 1-1 Great Harwood.

Scorers; Hargreaves (OG,1); O’Donnell (OG,83);

Attendance; 3,000

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

GREAT HARWOOD---Mitchell; Bennett, Hargreaves; Birtwhistle, Poole, Bunyan; Howarth, Catlow, Roberts, Carter, Shaw;

Referee; Mr. W. Martin (Liverpool)

The replay was quickly arranged for the afternoon of Thursday September 21^st at the Showground at Great Harwood.

Latics now faced back-to-back cup ties with a Cheshire League Cup tie with Northwich being scheduled for the Wednesday.