Report by SJG

CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs STALYBRIDGE CELTIC

 25^th November 1933

FIVE STAR LATICS MAUL CELTIC AS FORM IMPROVES.

Latics returned to Springfield Park for the first time in nearly a month and a decent crowd of 4,500 turned out, on a cold and raw day, to watch their heroes romp to a 5-0 win against, what was on paper, a strong Stalybridge side.

The manager Spencer made one change to his team with O’Rourke, who had received a knock in the previous game, making way for Snaith. Celtic added two new faces to their line up with Smaith, a striker signed from Stockport County, and Mountney, a defender, came in for their debuts.

Wigan began on the front foot and applied early pressure that was rewarded on five minutes when O’Dell and Kavanagh snuffed out a Celtic attack and quickly transferred the ball to Cowper. The Winger was quick to advance and delivered a deep cross that Scott was able to knock back into the danger zone for JONES to sweep the ball home with ease.

Latics nearly netted again when another cross, this time by the lively Scott found Snaith and he warmed the hands of Cope with a powerful low drive.

Celtic, for their part, had offered little by way of attacking threat but following good work by Prior they won a corner and when the ball was crossed Field hooked a shot goalward that was hacked off the line by a combination of O’Dell and Caunce. The visitors appealed that the ball had crossed the line but the referee waved away the claims.

On 23 minutes Kavanagh had to leave the field for treatment following a clash of heads that had left him bloodied and dazed. The defender was quickly patched up and returned to the pitch ten minutes later, but by then Wigan had doubled their lead with SCOTT lashing a fine drive past Cope who barely had time to react before the net was bulging.

Wigan added a third just before the break when SCOTT checked inside off his wing, raced past three defenders and curling a shot past the Celtic keeper.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 3-0 Stalybridge Celtic.

Celtic came out after the break with much more attacking intent, Jimmy Murphy, who had represented Wigan Borough, and Hornby combined well on the left wing and delivered a cross that Caunce could only partially clear but when the ball dropped to debutant Smith he snatched at his shot and it flew wide.

The home defence continued to come under pressure but as the visitors committed more men to attack spaces began to appear in their defence which Latics looked keen to exploit with Cowper and Scott prominent. Cope made one excellent save to deny Jones and Cowper went even closer still with a rising drive that crashed against the crossbar.

Smith nearly grabbed a debut goal when he found space in the Wigan box and unleashed a shot that glanced off the wrong side of the upright before going behind for a goal-kick.

On 82 minutes the referee awarded Wigan a penalty when Jones was nudged off the ball and FELTON stepped up to take the resulting spot kick. The kick was poorly directed and Cope blocked the shot but the deflected effort fell kindly for the Wigan man and he was able to lash home the rebound.

Wigan added a fifth goal in the 88^th minute when Cowper again provided a perfect cross and with the away defence all at sea in stooped JONES to net his second goal of the afternoon.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 5-0 Stalybridge Celtic.

Scorers; Jones (5), (88), Scott (27), (44), Felton (82);

Attendance; 4,500

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

STALYBRIDGE CELTIC--- Cope; Thornley, Mountney; Briggs, Bliss, Kellard; Prior, Field, Smith, Hornby, Murphy;

Referee; Mr. G. A. Nixon (Manchester).

Next up for Wigan is a trip to Congleton, a ground that saw them fall to a 3-1 defeat last season as they struggled to come to terms with the sloping pitch at the West Ground and the lively home attack.