Report by SJG

F. A. CUP

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs DICK, KERRS.

28^th October 1933

CAUNCE THE HERO WITH DOUBLE PENALTY SAVE

The third qualifying round of the F. A. Cup saw Latics again locking horns with a team from the Lancashire Combination. The team arose from a factory side based in Preston that produced luxury coaches.

It certainly was no comfortable ride for the Tics as the visitors produced a fine performance that was full of skill and power and they pushed Wigan all the way to the final whistle.

The day did not start well for the Preston side as their winger Ramsden was late arriving at the ground after missing the train in Blackburn and as a result he had to be replaced in the starting XI.

Wigan made one change to their starting XI with Albert Swift replacing Cowper on the wing after a recent string of fine performances in the reserves.

Wigan began well and O’ Rourke slipped a neat pass through to Scott but the winger struggled to control the bouncing ball and was penalised for handling the ball. Latics continued to press and Felton combined with Scott to whip in a dangerous cross that just evaded Swift at the back post. On ten minutes Latics got the opening goal, Kavanagh played a clever pass to Snaith who slipped the ball into the path of O’ROURKE whose first time drive found the bottom corner.

The restart saw Latics again on the attack and when Felton and Scott again combined on the wing the final centre was controlled by O’ROURKE who finished clinically.

Wigan should have made it three one minute later when Felton broke free of his marker, but he hesitated and the visitor’s keeper, Badger, raced from his line to narrow the angle and block the final shot.

The visitors finally settled into the game and Baybutt lifted a neat lob behind the Latics full bac which allowed Bond to find space and deliver a good cross that found Knight who struck a volley that thudded against the crossbar. Kavanagh cleared the loose ball and Wigan breathed a sigh of relief.

Bond again delivered a fine cross that nearly reached Mandy, but Caunce was quickly off his line and dove bravely at the players feet to smother any chance. The game moved quickly from end to end with both sides going close to registering on the scoreboard, but rushed finishing and good keeping ensured that the score remained unchanged at the half way stage.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 2-0 Dick, Kerrs.

The visitors made some formational changes after the break and these proved far more effective against the Wigan back-line. Latics, however, should have added a third goal within minutes of the restart. O’Rourke slipped in Felton but the normally cool finisher again failed to beat Badger who produced a brilliant save from point-blank range.

Bond again caused problems for the Wigan defence as another well delivered cross saw Caunce only partially punch clear and Knight collected the clearance and fired in a shot that deflected off Harrison and narrowly wide of the post.

On 55 minutes the visitors had a great chance to narrow the deficit as Robinson upended Molloy and a penalty was awarded. The kick was taken by Mandy but Caunce read the strikers intentions and dove to his right to smother the spot kick.

Latics nearly put the game out of reach when O’Rourke fired in an effort that was well saved by Badger, then on 67 minutes the visitors were awarded a second spot kick when O’Dell was adjudged to have handled in the area.

Bond collected the ball and took the penalty kick but Caunce again read the intentions of the kick taker and he plunged to his left to push the ball away. Unfortunately for the Wigan shot-stopper the rebound fell to HARRISON who fired into the roof of the net.

With 23 minutes still to play there was still plenty of time for the visitors to grab an equaliser, but Wigan finally grabbed the midfield initiative and it was the home side that looked more likely to add to the score with Felton and O’Rourke going close and with Badger doing well to save from Harrison and Felton.

In the final minutes Swift made two forward forays but on each occasion Rodway defended well and denied the winger any real goalscoring opportunity.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 2-1 Dick, Kerrs.

Scorers; O’Rourke (10), (12); Harrison (67);

Attendance; 4,725

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

DICK, KERRS---Badger; Hammond, Wilkinson; Baybutt, Rodway, Mercer; Bond, Knight, Molloy, Mandy, Harrison;

Referee; Mr. J. Mayo (Burnley)

If the luck was with Latics in the game then it surely deserted them in the draw as they were selected to travel to Altrincham in the next round for one of the toughest ties possible at this stage of the competition.