Report by SJG

CHESHIRE LEAGUE CHALLENGE CUP

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs NORTHWICH VICTORIA.

20^th September 1933

FOUR GOAL FELTON EASES LATICS INTO SECOND ROUND.

Wigan produced a performance that was much more like their true form as they brushed aside Northwich to gain a place in the second round of the Cheshire League Challenge Cup. A crowd of 3,023 paid receipts of £87 turned out on a dry still Wednesday evening to see Latics put their poor showing in the F. A. Cup behind them. Harrison, Cowper and Snaith returned from injury and replaced Robson, Jones and Quinn.

Northwich had an early chance to put pressure on the Wigan back-line when Robinson was penalised for a poor challenge. The free kick caused mayhem in the Wigan are but somehow Caunce and Harrison managed to get the ball to safety. O’Dell and Harrison then linked well before playing Cowper into space. The wing man unleashed a strong drive but his aim was poor and the ball was wide of the target. A few minutes later Felton played a good pass to Scott who centred for Glidden to plant a header toward the visitor’s net, but Prince, in the Victoria goal, was alert and made the save.

On the 15-minute mark Latics had a lucky escape when a Williamson free-kick was drilled past the defensive wall and thudded against the foot of the post before the Wigan backs hooked the ball clear. Wigan responded with a forceful attack of their own, Scott whipped in a good cross and shots by Glidden, Snaith and Felton all got blocked as desperate defenders threw their bodies in the way of goal-bound efforts. Then on 20 minutes Latics grabbed the lead, SCOTT beat Wooton before cutting inside and firing a low shot that Prince got hands to, but was unable to hold and the ball crept over the line. Four minutes later and Cowper caused problems in the Victoria box, the ball broke to FELTON and he lashed home number two. Latics were now dominating the game and with Scott and O’Dell both prominent chances fell to Snaith, Glidden and Felton but in each case the visitors managed to keep their goal intact.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 2-0 Northwich Victoria. 

The first significant action of the second half saw Glidden fire in a low shot that passed just beyond the post. However, this effort aside, it was Northwich who began the better after the break. A spell of dominance led to the lead being cut as following a shot by Walsh that struck the crossbar, OWEN, who would go on to play for Manchester City and Newport County, headed neatly home.

The game looked in danger of slipping away from the Latics until Scott whipped in a good cross and FELTON clinically headed home. Prince perhaps should have done better but the force of the header proved too much for the keeper who could not hold onto the ball and spilled it over the line.  A long ball from O’Dell set Felton free on goal but Prince raced from his line to frustrate the Wigan forward with a good block.

Wigan’s fourth goal came as a result of a foul on Kavanagh by Curley, Robinson lobbed a deep free-kick into the Victoria area and FELTON outjumped his marker and powered home a flying header via the post.

As the game entered its final 20 minutes the weather began to close-in and a mist began to descend, but it was still the home side that was making all the running. Snaith set off on a lovely jinking dribble but his final shot was wide. Glidden then went close with a strong shot and Scott was frustrated by good handling from Prince.

Then in the dying minutes Glidden slid a perfect pass through for FELTON and he blasted home his fourth and Latic’s final goal of the game.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 5-1 Northwich Victoria.

Scorers; Scott (20), Felton (24), (66), (69), (86); Owen (47)

Attendance; 3,023

Team; WIGAN---Caunce; Robinson, O’Donnell; Kavanagh, O’Dell, Harrison; Cowper, Snaith, Felton, Glidden, Scott;

NORTHWICH---Prince; Wooton, McDonald; Williamson, Ferguson, Curley; Pennington, Watson, Owen, Walsh, Walters;

Referee; Mr. E. Plinston. (Warrington)

The second-round draw saw Wigan selected for a tricky tie away at Runcorn. The fixture planning would see the game eventually scheduled for March 1934.

Latics only had 24 hours to recover before they made the trip to the Showground in Great Harwood for the F. A. Cup replay.