Report by SJG

LANCASHIRE JUNIOR CUP

MORECAMBE vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

 10^th February 1934

WIGAN MARCH ON AFTER CONVINCING WIN AT CHRISTIE PARK.

Wigan made only one change to the team that trounced Macclesfield on the previous Saturday with Horace Thomas being promoted from the reserves to take on the role of centre forward in place of Snaith.

Morecambe, who had struggled in the league, were boosted by the return from injury of Shaw who took up his familiar role in defence.

The sun was shining brightly at kick off and Wigan clearly started the game in the mood to repeat the previous Saturday’s heroics as straight from kick off Scott sprinted free of his marker on the wing and delivered a fine cross that Thomas just failed to reach before Parker who headed clear.

The Shrimps were quite lively and had slightly the better of the opening exchanges with Caunce having to show good handling skills to collect a rising shot from Young. The home side relied on a well organised offside trap to keep the speedy Wigan forwards in check and on a forward foray Pearson found himself wit a shooting chance after good work from Young but he hurried his shot and the effort flew wide of the goal.

Thomas wasted a great opportunity for the visitors when he delayed taking a shot and the defence was able to close him down and snuff out the danger.  Young fired in a low drive for the hosts that beat Caunce’s dive but Robinson was on hand to clear the effort off the line. Then from the resulting corner kick Tracey and Young both challenged Caunce for the cross and the ball rolled just beyond the far post.

Wigan took the lead just before the break courtesy of an own goal by ATKINS who tried to head clear an O’Dell shot and in so doing completely wrong-footed Illingworth in the home goal who appeared to have the original shot covered.

Half Time; Morecambe 0-1 Wigan Athletic.

The opening goal may have been a little fortunate and a little against the run of play, but the second goal required no such luck as SCOTT took advantage of hesitancy in the home defence to sprint forward and drive a low shot across the face of goal and into the far corner of the home net.

The Shrimps pushed forward and after good work by Tyson they gained a corner. The ball was delivered deep into the Wigan area and after something of a heading battle ATKINS was able to loop the ball beyond Caunce and into the roof of the goal.

With the game back in the balance the tackles became more robust and the referee was called upon to make a number of vital decisions. He had stern words with Kavanagh after one particularly hefty collision and then he waved away the Morecambe appeals for handball against Talbot who had thrown his body in the way of a goal-bound shot by Tyson.

On 74 minutes the crucial third Wigan goal arrived as THOMAS quickly dispossessed Shaw deep in his own half and with the defence scrambling to cover he planted his shot beyond the on-rushing Illingworth.

Two minutes later and the tie was sealed as SCOTT lashed in a left footed drive from distance that flew into the goal via a post.

The home side, in front of their best crowd of the season, still searched for a way back into the game and Pearson saw his long-range effort bounce to safety off an upright. Then with time virtually over, and with Wigan sitting deep in defence the home wing man Tyson found a yard of space to slot the ball past Caunce. The linesman, however, decided to rule the goal off as he deemed the winger to have drifted into an offside position.

Full Time; Morecambe 1-4 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Atkins (OG, 44), Scott (55), (76), Thomas (74); Atkins (62).

Attendance; 2,100

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

MORECAMBE--- Illingworth; Shaw, Parker; J. Cornthwaite, Boyd, Atkins; H. Cornthwaite, Young, Pearson, Tracey, Tyson;

Referee; Mr. T. Telfer (Barrow).

Wigan now progress to the Quarter-final where they will play Great Harwood.