Report by SJG

CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

CONGLETON TOWN vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

 2^nd December 1933

KEEN CONTEST SEES BOTH SIDES DRAW A BLANK AS POINTS SHARED.

Wigan named an unchanged team for their trip to Congleton as they looked to build upon their back-to-back wins. Congleton won the toss and elected to play with the slope in the first period as they wasted no time in launching an aerial bombardment on the Wigan goal that had Caunce fisting clear a dangerous ball from ex-Wigan Borough defender Cecil White. One typically direct assault saw the loose ball fall to Bailey who rushed his effort and in so-doing he fired wide of the mark.

Wigan responded as O’Dell fed Felton who in turn found Scott and the winger picked out Jones who failed to hit the target. On the 15-minute mark Latics suffered a bitter blow to their attacking potency when Cowper received a heavy blow to his neck following a throw-in and he was left dazed for most of the remainder of the game, despite extended treatment from the trainer.

The game was now an end-to-end and Robinson had to be alert to mop up a home attack with a well-timed challenge of the highest order. Then a quick counter saw Kavanagh finding space on the edge of the box and firing a shot narrowly wide for the visitors.

Snaith was causing problems for the home defence with his direct running and one neat inside pass by the Wigan man just evaded Jones in the area and was cleared to safety.  Jones went close a few minutes later when he directed a header goalwards only for Colman to produce an acrobatic save and fist the ball against the crossbar and away.

Both sides continued to create chances but both keepers produced excellent handling and anticipation to ensure that the scoreline remained blank at the break.

Half Time; Congleton Town 0-0 Wigan Athletic.

The second half saw Wigan attacking down the slope and the visitors tried to press home their advantage with a series of promising attacks. The first saw Robinson and Talbot working the ball to Cowper and despite his injury the winger picked out Jones whose shot was wild and flew across face of the goal. Jones did better with his next effort at goal as his volley, after neat build up play from the Wigan midfielders, passed only a matter of inches past the upright.

O’Dell, with his clever passing and prompting kept Wigan pushing forward, but wayward wasteful shooting failed to trouble Edgar Colman in the home goal. Congleton carried less of a threat in attack but a curled effort by Thompson had hearts racing when it beat Caunce but passed just over the crossbar.

Hugh Moffat, the ex-Burnley and Oldham player had a fine tussle with O’Dell with neither player neither asking or giving any quarter.

Latics had a huge let-off on 65 minutes when a fierce driven Congleton free-kick by Thompson was misjudged by Caunce and when the keeper failed to get a touch the effort looked likely to find the net but to Wigan’s relief the shot struck the foot of a post and bounced back to Caunce who was able to smuggle the ball to safety.

The game had become scrappy and chances were at a premium. Latics did find the net when Jones barged Colman into his goal but the referee supported the home sides claims for a foul.

A heavy challenge on Talbot left the Wigan man limping and the visitors were forced to play out the last five minutes with only ten fit men as the full back was little more than a passenger.

Neither side could force home their advantage as first George Scott over-ran the ball when sprinting for goal and the ball ran out of play and then Caunce was quick to come and collect a speculative shot by the home side.

When full-time arrived both sides appeared happy to have gained a hard-fought draw.

Full Time; Congleton Town 0-0 Wigan Athletic.

Attendance; 2,000

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

CONGLETON TOWN--- Colman; Moseley, Briscoe; Jackson, White, Watkinson; Moffatt, Bailey, Watkin, Thompson, James;

Referee; Mr. H. T. McBride (Crewe).