Report by SJG

CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

MOSSLEY vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

 30^th December 1933

O’DELL INJURED AS LATICS DEFENCE CRUMBLES.

Wigan suffered a series of disasters at Mossley as they crashed to an unexpected 5-2 defeat. The match kicked off in torrential rain and sleet and the pitch resembled a quagmire but these are little more than excuses and Wigan, who began the game well and raced into a two-goal lead should surely have not capitulated in the manner that they did.

Mossley had an early sight of goal but Forrester flashed his drive over the bar and Wigan quickly responded with O’Dell, Felton and Scott linking up well before the Latics wing-man fired in an effort that Barnes, in the home goal, did well to turn around a post. The resulting corner caused a mad scramble in the box but Barnes was eventually able to collect the ball and clear up-field.

Wigan continued to apply pressure on the home goal and after a succession of corners SNAITH finally found the route to goal as he fired home through a ruck of bodies.

A minute later saw what was to prove a decisive moment in the contest when O’Dell was badly injured in a tackle with Tarr. The Wigan captain was stretchered off the field with ligament damage and would not return and Latics were forced to quickly reshuffle their remaining ten-men with Felton dropping into the defence.

On twenty minutes Wigan doubled their lead when Kavanagh fed Cowper who picked out Jones and the forward checked past Connor and fired in a stinging effort that the keeper failed to hold. This allowed Cowper to collect possession and when he squared the ball JONES was on hand to net from close range. The home side claimed in vain for offside but the referee, after consulting the linesman, awarded the goal.

If the home side were frustrated with the decision they certainly channelled that disappointment in the right manner as Henshall (twice), Birtles and Forrester all went close before, on thirty-five minutes they finally netted with HURST beating Caunce to a teasing Henshall cross and slotting home.

Half Time; Mossley 1-2 Wigan Athletic.

The goal, arriving as it did, just before the break, seemed to give the home side fresh belief and they quickly pushed forward after the restart with Wigan being forced onto the defensive and relying on quick counter attacks.

Scholes, Hurst and Henshall all tested Caunce but the Wigan keeper excelled and saw off the danger.

The heavy conditions were making flowing passing moves difficult and the game descended into an increasingly scrappy and fractious affair. Mossley nearly levelled when a free kick by Fisher was whipped into the Wigan area and Hurst won a header that brought a superb save from Caunce.

On a rare break it was Jones who should have restored the two-goal cushion but his fast drive was finger-tipped over by Barnes who had rushed from hi goal to try and narrow the shooting angle. The save was to prove to be vital as on 67 minutes Mossley levelled the game. A free kick saw the ball delivered into the Wigan box and when the defence failed to clear a melee ensued with HURST forcing the ball home past a prostrate Caunce.

With the game now in the balance it was the home side who began to dominate and Wigan seemed unable to clear the ball as they tried to repel wave after wave of home attacks. A few minutes passed before Forrester found space out wide and he picked out BIRTLES who made no mistake from close range to put the home side ahead.

Wigan then had a lucky reprieve when Caunce fumbled the greasy ball and Hurst pounced to net only for the linesman to rule out the attempt. The let off, however, was short lived and Mossley scored a fourth when FORRESTER broke through on a fast counter attack to slot home.

Wigan mustered a final flurry and Felton crossed to Cowper but his control let him down and he failed to find the crucial goal-den touch.

With time running out Mossley nearly added a fifth when Caunce again fumbled a Hurst shot but the ball failed to cross the line as it got stuck in the mud and Talbot hacked clear. Then in injury time HURST was on target again and he completed a fine hat-trick to ensure the home side were victorious.

Full Time; Mossley 5-2 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Snaith (14), Jones (20); Hurst (35), (67), (90+3), Birtles (70), Forrester (74);

Attendance; 1,500

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

MOSSLEY--- Barnes; Westerby, Connor; Scholes, Hughes, Fisher; Tarr, Henshall, Hurst, Birtles, Forrester;

Referee; Mr. J. Roscoe (Bolton).