Report by SJG

 CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

TRANMERE ROVERS RESERVES   vs   WIGAN ATHLETIC

8^th October 1932

A HARD STRUGGLE ON THE WIRRAL.

Latics travelled to a rain-sodden Wirral in search of more league points against a Tranmere side that was bolstered by the presence of two first-teamers who were working their way back to fitness. ‘Ginger’ Lewis lined up at full back, and Ernie Dixon, played at centre-half, (but was probably better known as a combative centre forward).  Wigan, for their part, had the luxury of being able to name an unchanged XI.

A crowd of around 2,000 braved the wet conditions and were treated to a highly competitive encounter that matched two very different footballing styles.

Latics began the game well and forced an early corner and a good delivery by Hughes found the head of Allon, who directed his header just wide of the post.  Having settled well Wigan began to impose their passing style of football and a lovely interchange between Murphy and Jones saw a well struck cross picking out the in- rushing Hughes. The wingman struck a lovely first-time effort that brought a brilliant save from the diving Temple, who was able to fist clear. Wigan forced a couple of corners, but these failed to produce anything of note. Tranmere also had a number of set pieces and one saw Pearson swing in a good cross that Abbott did well to handle, under pressure from the home forwards.

Wake and Murphy linked well for the Tics, and set McCabe into space but the strikers well struck shot struck the crossbar, with the keeper beaten. Pearson, a young pacey right winger was causing some early problems for the Wigan left side, with Callachan in particular finding himself fully occupied in trying to stop the youngster, and when a cross found Healey, he evaded Spencer, before slipping in WATSON, who finished with ease from close range.

Athletic continued to try and play their passing game, despite some heavy tackling by the Rovers defenders and they gained their reward on 21 minutes, Allon centred to Chambers, who slipped the ball to his striking partner MCCABE, who produced a lovely low left foot strike that found its way through a ruck of bodies and into the home net. Three minutes later and Latics netted again. Jones and MURPHY linked well and the latter struck a curling effort which Temple failed to hold and he fumbled the effort into his own goal.

Tong struck a long-range shot that dipped onto the Wigan bar as Tranmere pushed for an equaliser, but, in pushing forward gaps were being left and Hughes had two half chances to net a third, but his finishing was poor.

Half Time; Tranmere Rovers Reserves 1-2 Wigan Athletic.

The second half was a much dourer affair as Tranmere’s more direct approach began to overwhelm the more considered passing game that was the Wigan preference. Rovers forced a series of corners and Abbott did well to avert any danger as he came under more and more physical pressure. Latics carried some threat on the break and Temple had to deny Chambers with a smart save, which he collected at the second attempt. However, Chambers was becoming an isolated figure in attack as his colleagues were fully employed in a defensive capacity. Tranmere forced a further series of corners, but the effort that the home side was expending in closing down the Wigan midfield was never likely to be maintained and as the half progressed Latics gradually grew back into the game with Spencer prompting with a number of well weighted passes.

Chambers produced a neat pass that presented Hughes with a clear run at goal, but his control let him down and his shot was wild. Another Chambers pass saw Hughes in space out wide and he delivered an inviting cross that Temple did well to intercept as the on-rushing Wigan forwards looked to score. Tranmere than had a similar opportunity when a driven cross by Tong just evaded E.W Spencer and Healey as it flashed across the face of the goal. The defences of both sides looked to be getting on top of their opposing numbers and the earlier steady stream of chances had now reduced to barely a trickle.

Lewis and Roberts, by combining cool judgement and robust tackling were managing to keep the Wigan forwards at bay, while the Wigan half-back line was proving a formidable obstacle for the home team. Temple was required to sprint from his goal to save bravely at the feet of Chambers and McCabe did win a free-kick in a dangerous position when Lewis was overly aggressive in the tackle.

One final effort saw a long floated free kick by Dixon force a back-pedalling Abbott to turn the ball over as the Tranmere forwards rushed to try and get a vital touch.

Full Time; Tranmere Rovers Reserves 1-2 Wigan Athletic.

Attendance; 2,000

Scorers; Watson (9); McCabe (21), Murphy (24);

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

TRANMERE— Temple; Jones, Lewis; Rawsthorne, Dixon, G S Roberts; Pearson, E W Spencer, Healey, Watson, Tong;

Referee; J.J. Gleave (Stockport)

Wigan Athletics fine away form has now seen them climb to third place in the Cheshire League table. The current league leaders being Hyde United, who to date remain the only unbeaten side in the competition.