Report by SJG

CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

WIGAN ATHLETIC   vs   PORT VALE RESERVES

27^th AUGUST 1932 

HONOUR IN DEFEAT.

A handsome crowd of 5,106 fans turned out in weather that was more suited to the cricket season, to see the newly formed Wigan Athletic F.C. take on one of the stronger, more fancied sides in the Cheshire League in the opening fixture of the season.  The home side performed well and for long periods they had the better of the contest. In the first half it was Latics, that dominated most of the proceedings with McCabe a constant lively threat, and a number of efforts were denied by brave blocks by the Vale defenders. Davies in the Port Vale goal was called upon to save on a number of occasions and he was by far the busier of the two keepers. The passing and movement of the Wigan side belied their lack of practice and promised much for the coming season. The half back line of Wake, Spencer, and Allon looked solid and in O’Dell and Callachan the Latics appear to have found a solid defensive base. Abbott in goal looked assured, and cannot really be blamed for either of the goals that were conceded. The Vale, who fielded a very strong and experienced line-up were often forced into massed defence to repel the Wigan attacks.  

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-0 Port Vale Reserves.

The second period started in much the same manner, with Wigan controlling the flow of the game and Henderson, who in the main had tended to sit too deep, forced Davies into a fine save with an outstanding effort from distance. The two vital goals, when they arrived, were against the run of play and resulted from lapses in concentration. The first on the hour mark arose when a long cross from the right found Jimmy

MCGRATH, who with a clear run in gave Abbott no chance with a well struck shot. Then three minutes later Tommy NOLAN, who had played regularly for the first team in previous seasons, slipped his marker and, using the space, he burst forward and slipped the ball home. Wigan tried to respond but Vale now had something to defend and they worked hard to deny any route to goal. McCabe started to get isolated in attack and the wide men found it increasingly difficult to get up in support. Latics had two decent appeals for penalty kicks waved away, and in the end the better prepared side, who probably also had better fitness levels, were able to hold out for the win, that from general play they scarcely deserved.

The game was marred by two late incidents when B Davies in the Vale goal had to have extended treatment after colliding with McCabe, and then in the dying minutes RG Davies limped from the game with an injury, leaving Vale short on numbers for the closing minutes of the match.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic   0-2   Port Vale Reserves.

Attendance; 5,106

Scorers; McGrath (60), Nolan (63);

Team; WIGAN-- Abbott; O’Dell, Callachan; Wake, Spencer, Allon; Chambers, Smith, McCabe, Henderson, Murphy;  

PORT VALE—Davies; Cope, Breeze; Millington, Bliss, Birks; Baker, RG Davies, Nolan, Beech, McGrath;

Referee; A E Smith (Liverpool)