Report by SJG

CHESHIRE COUNTY CUP

WIGAN ATHLETIC   vs   CHESTER RESERVES

28^TH SEPTEMBER 1932

ATHLETIC OUST CHESTER.

Latics stormed into the next round of the Cup with an outstanding, clinical display.

Wake returned to the starting XI, with Smith being rested and Jones returning to a more advanced role.

A crowd of 6,556 contributed to gate receipts that totalled £173,5s,6d. and in return they were treated to a dominant display of attacking football that at times was breathtaking in its execution.

Latics took an early lead when Hughes fed a telling through ball that Chambers controlled well. The forward fired at goal but his effort was blocked, however, HUGHES was quickly onto the rebound and fired home. Vaughan had a couple of chances to draw Chester level, but his first shot was well saved by Abbott, and his second failed to find the target. Then on 16 minutes Latics doubled their lead, but not without controversy. O’Dell played a long ball into the box that was collected by Burke in the Chester goal under pressure from CHAMBERS, who appeared to charge the keeper, forcing him to step back over the goal-line. Chester protested strongly against the goal being awarded, but the referee was adamant that the goal should stand. Murphy then produced a lovely inviting cross, but McCabe and Chambers both went for the ball and as a result impeded each other, Jones was racing in at the back post and seemed to have a tap-in, but could not quite reach the ball in time. The next Latics attack saw Murphy having a shot blocked by Burke who rushed out to save, the ball rebounded to McCabe but he screwed his shot wide of the unmanned net. Two minutes before the break Chambers forced a corner kick, Murphy produced an accurate delivery and McCabe headed against the crossbar, the ball fell to JONES, who fired home the third goal. Griffiths, the Chester outside right was now clearly struggling with an ankle injury further handicapping the visitors.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 3-0 Chester Reserves.

The teams turned straight around for the second half (in order that the good light could be preserved.) and Latics went back on the attack. McCabe saw a long range shot well gathered by Burke, and the keeper denied the Wigan man again a few moments later when he produced a smothering save after a smart low snap shot. On 51 minutes Latics scored again. A long hopeful ball by O’Dell evaded Jolly and CHAMBERS timed his run well to beat the offside trap. The Latics man outpaced the static defence, steadied himself, and netted with ease. With the game gone, Griffiths hobbled from the field, and Chester were faced with playing the remaining minutes with ten men.

Wigan were now dominant, and a Hughes was inches wide with an effort following another excellent Murphy cross. On the hour mark another long ball, this time by Jones, sent CHAMBERS through, he rounded the full back Parker, and fired a low shot past Burke, to complete a hat-trick--- The first ever recorded by a Wigan Athletic player.

Chester continued to compete with Parker, Brown and Price all working hard to try and stem the tide and create something for the Cheshire outfit. However, the forward line, shorn as it was of one of its number, got little joy against a well-drilled Wigan defence. In fact, it was Wigan who looked the more likely to score again and Murphy saw one well struck shot hitting the crossbar before another effort passed narrowly wide of the goal. With six minutes left to play Spencer produced some neat footwork that created a good chance for JONES and the Wigan man made no mistake with a composed close-range finish.

Wigan still had time to add a seventh and on 86 minutes a Hughes cross was swept home with a powerful first-time finish by CHAMBERS.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 7-0 Chester Reserves.

Attendance; 6,556

Scorers; Hughes (3), Chambers (16), (51), (60), (86), Jones (43), (84)

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

CHESTER—Burke; Brown, Parker; Price, Jolly, Butler; Wyper, Jennings, Roscoe, Vaughan, Griffiths;

Referee; J H Ackers (Crewe)

In the other first round ties, Crewe beat Nantwich 4-0; Macclesfield beat Congleton 4-1; and Winsford United beat Northwich Victoria 4-1; the other teams that progressed included Manchester North End, Ashton National, Runcorn and Altrincham.

The draw for the next round of the competition saw Latics drawn to play away from home against Runcorn. However, after protracted negotiations the sides agreed to switch the tie to Springfield Park with Runcorn being guaranteed to receive a minimum of £50 as their share of any gate receipts.