Report by SJG

F. A. CUP

GREAT HARWOOD vs WIGAN ATHLETIC.

21^st September 1933

WIGAN PROGRESS TO NEXT ROUND.

After a tough encounter at Springfield Park the replay began in the best possible style for Latics as in the first minute a corner by Cowper was only cleared to the edge of the box and KAVANAGH lashed in a long shot that had Mitchell completely beaten.  The game was being played in a steady downpour and the difficult conditions were testing both sides. Great Harwood produced a series of attacking raids that kept both O’Donnell and Robinson busy. Caunce was called upon to show good handling skills to save from Howarth and a few minutes later he had to fist clear an effort from Bunyan and as Great Harwood continued to press Howarth sent a shot just over the Latics crossbar. The leveller, when it arrived, was fully merited, Mitchell saved from Cowper and then launched a long ball downfield that found Pool, he in turn fed Howarth whose accurate cross picked out ROBERTS who fired home.

The underfoot conditions continued to deteriorate as the rain continued to fall and the sodden surface saw both sides often opting for the safe option of playing back to the keeper.

The game was now a very even affair, the Wigan back line was working hard to keep the home side at bay, and at the other end Scott was testing the defensive skills of his marker Bennett.

Half Time; Great Harwood 1-1 Wigan Athletic. 

In the second period Wigan had the advantage of playing down the slight slope that characterises the Great Harwood showground, and they quickly set about making the slight advantage pay. An early corner from Cowper allowed Scott to fire in a shot but Mitchell was able to palm the ball over, but when Great Harwood were slow to clear the resulting corner Glidden stole possession and fed COWPER whose rising shot found the back of the net. The lead was extended shortly afterwards when FELTON followed in a shot from Harrison and when the ball rebounded off the bar he directed his header past Mitchell.

Great Harwood tried their best to keep their hopes of a lucrative run in the F. A. Cup alive but the Wigan defence was watertight and with O’Donnell and Robinson in imperious form they never really allowed a proper sight at goal for the home sides forwards. In actual fact it was Wigan who had the chances as they broke quickly and Glidden, Scott and Cowper all spurned decent opportunities.

The fourth goal did arrive when Caunce kicked long and O’Dell fed Glidden who dribbled past his marker, Bennett, and when he squared the ball to COWPER the winger finished with ease.

The home side briefly threatened and following a free-kick, that was awarded for handball, Caunce had to move well to collect. Then Carter raised the hopes of the spectators with a burst down the wing but Caunce was quickly off his line to snuff out any threat.

Full Time; Great Harwood 1-4 Wigan Athletic. 

Scorers; Kavanagh (1), Cowper (47), (80), Felton (51); Roberts (34);

Attendance; 827

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

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

Referee; Mr. W. Martin (Liverpool)

The draw for the first qualifying round matched Latics against Horwich R.M.I., the match would be played at Grundy Hill and a special train was chartered for the supporters. It left from the Wigan (Lancashire and Yorkshire) station (pictured below) at 2.25 p.m. stopping at Ince and Hindley, before returning from Horwich at 5.30 p.m.  The fare for a return ticket was the princely sum of one shilling. (or 5p).

However, before that eagerly awaited cup encounter there were League points to be fought for and next up for Latics was a trip to Moss Rose to play the current Champions Macclesfield.

Last season Wigan had to watch as the hosts collected the trophy on the occasion of the final game of the season. Latics lost that game 4-1 and so they knew that the game would be a strong test for their championship winning ambitions.