Report by SJG

CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs SANDBACH RAMBLERS

 7^th October 1933

A GAME OF TWO HALVES SEES LATICS RECORD GOOD WIN.

The new Wigan captain, Jack O’Donnell, who had taken on the role vacated by Albert Harrison, led his new charges for the first time on a showery afternoon.

Latics nearly gifted the Ramblers an early goal when Robinson saw his attempted clearance charged down and only good covering work by O’Donnell denied Kesson a clear shooting opportunity. Gradually Wigan gained the ascendancy with Felton bringing a good save from Whitehead in the visitor’s goal. Scott and Snaith both had good shots on goal but the young Sandbach keeper was more than equal to their efforts.

Sandbach were far from overwhelmed by the homesters and nearly scored from a corner kick when a fine header by Chapman beat Caunce but Robinson was on hand to clear the effort off the line.

A good run and cross by George Scott presented Jones with a clear sight of goal but the striker failed to connect properly with his shot and Whitehead was able to clear the danger. The keeper also produced a good stop to deny Felton but he should have had no chance in the 43^rd minute when the referee awarded Latics a penalty for a hand ball offence by Sproston. Felton took the kick but he failed to find the net as Whitehead guessed correctly and was able to make a smothering save.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-0 Sandbach Ramblers.

After 45 minutes when both sets of forwards appeared unable to shoot on target the game changed completely after the break and the crowd was treated to a goal-fest. Wigan came out in attacking style and the visitors were at full stretch to keep the home forwards at bay. However, it was the visitors who netted first, and the goal was shrouded in controversy as Wigan clearly felt that that there was a clear offside in the build-up.

Warren and Manock worked the ball well on the wing before crossing the ball into the area where Kesson and Latham looked suspiciously offside, KESSON collected the ball and slotted home the chance, and despite vociferous protests from the Wigan side the goal was allowed to stand.

The goal seemed to stir the Latics to greater efforts and they piled forward onto the attack and it was barely three minutes later before the equaliser arrived. COWPER collected a pass on the edge of the penalty area and his low drive finally beat the outstanding Whitehead and nestled into the corner of the net. Having scored one Cowper turned provider a few minutes later when he crossed for JONES to complete a simple finish. The visitors now had their chance to protest as the striker had seemed to be offside, but once again the protests were denied and the goal was allowed to stand.

The concession of the second goal seemed to break the visitors resolve and the floodgates finally opened when another pin point cross by Cowper picked out FELTON who stroked the ball home on the half-volley.

On 75 minutes a quick passing move with Felton and jones linking nicely played in the winger SCOTT who added the fourth with a first time shot.

FELTON added the fifth goal in the 81st minute when a poor clearance by the keeper fell to Scott and he played a perfect through ball that beat the offside trap allowing his fellow forward time and space to finish with assurance.

FELTON was able to complete his hat-trick and record Wigans sixth goal of the game when with two minutes left on the clock he produced a flying kick that arrowed into the Ramblers goal.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 6-1 Sandbach Ramblers. 

Scorers; Cowper (56), Jones (63), Felton (73), (81), (88), Scott (75); Kesson (53);

Attendance; 4,500

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

SANDBACH RAMBLERS---Whitehead; Stubbs, Sproston; Hampson, Fradley, Warren; Newton, Chapman, Kesson, Latham, Manock;

Referee; Mr. J. H. Irving (Stockport)

The win lifted Latics to second place in the League table, just behind Witton Albion, who had accumulated two points more, but had also completed two more games.

The management team had continued, in the week, to try and find more recruits to cover for the inevitable injuries that a long season will bring. The search for a centre-forward has so far proved fruitless but they had signed an inside forward who had been on trial at Witton Albion, James O’Rourke.

O’ Rourke had impressed at Witton Albion but had been dis-satisfied with the terms that they had offered and Manager Charlie Spencer had been quick to grasp the opportunity to bring him to Springfield Park.