WELL DONE, WIGAN. HOW SOUTHPORT LOST CUP INTEREST.

WIGAN Borough will visit Walsall in the final qualifying round of the F.A. Cup, having gained a smart victory over Southport.

Last season Southport entered the first round proper of the English Cup competition, and were only beaten by Blackburn Rovers, at Haig-avenue, after running the Rovers to a draw at Ewood Park.

New Brighton, on the other hand, were defeated in their first game—by Whiston Parish, at Sandheys Park—but the reverse has proved to be the case this season. The Rakers hold an exceptionally fine opportunity of making their bow in the first round, while the Sandgrounders said good-bye to the competition when they were defeated by Wigan Borough in the replayed tie at Springfield Park yesterday by three goals to one.

There was no doubt that the wind had done much towards the Borough’s success in the first half, but their tactics were generally superior to those of the visitors.

Even when Southport had the advantage they did not over-play their opponents to any-thing like the extent Wigan had done earlier in the game, and though they reduced the lead through Glover, the Borough had hard luck in not getting further ahead on more than one occasion.

FINER POINTS MISSING

Play was keen throughout, but the finer points of the game were missing (writes Reg).This was not to be wondered at, for the wind amounted to a gale, and there was a lot of wild kicking in the second half.

There was little to choose between the respective defences. Both goalkeepers made many fine saves and were generally well-covered by the backs, of whom, to my mind, Tootle was pick. Despite his lack of inches, his timing and interventions were perfect—apart from two occasions when he miskicked in the first half. Fare was brilliant and moderate in turn, though seldom beaten, and was well partnered by Currie.Wigan’s strength was in their intermediate line, where Owen Williams was a power in himself. Pendleton also did well, but was not so prominent when facing the wind. Marshall was just a little cumbersome as Southport’s pivot, and Sinclair was the best of the trio.It was in attack that the visitors failed.

They were too prone to leave the onus and scoring to Glover, who was always a marked man, with the result that the raids led by their clever wingers, Mandy and Semple, generally came to naught.

The Borough employed more open tactics. Stevenson and Dennison were a dangerous leftwing, with Kidd a desperate raider. Spencer was a rare forager and proved his worth if only in the way he kept the ball low, while the van possessed a dashing and clever leader in A. Williams, who was always on the mark.For their return match with Barrow away on Saturday a number of changes have been made in the Southport side compared with that which was defeated at Wigan yesterday.

Howard will take the place of Marshall at centre half, and Linaker and Abram will appear on the left wing in place of Rigsby and Semple.This will be Linaker’s and Howard’s first appearance with the senior team. The side selected is: Halsall; Greatorex, Tootle;Sinclair, Howard, Wilkinson; Mandy, Sib-bald, Glover, Linaker and Abram.