Report by SJG

CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

WIGAN ATHLETIC   vs   WINSFORD UNITED

15^th October 1932

UNITED SOUNDLY BEATEN AS LATICS GO NAP.

Altrincham’s ongoing interest in the FA Cup meant that their scheduled fixture at Springfield Park, to play Latics, had to be cancelled. Wigan moved quickly to arrange an alternate and Winsford United moved forward their match from its original December date. This would be Wigans first home game for a month and meant that the Latics could look to address their, so far, unconvincing home form. The game was also an opportunity for the club to arrange a collection to aid the dependants of the nineteen miners who lost their lives in the recent pit disaster at Bickershaw colliery. A crowd of 5,000 turned out to watch the game and the collection raised an impressive £16, 5s, 6d.

Wigan had the advantage of a strong wind in the first half and United were quickly forced on the defensive by a Latics side that seemed eager to establish an unassailable lead.  A quick raid down the right wing ended with Jones shooting narrowly wide. Then a series of corners saw Allon twice have headers cleared off the line. It appeared that Latics were adopting a shoot on sight policy, and with Chambers and McCabe both looking sharp and eager the Winsford back line was having a torrid time. Murphy had a shot saved after good work by Jones had created the winger some space. United were restricted to breakaways, but Simpson, on one such raid did force Abbott into action as he fisted clear a cross before any of the United forwards could threaten the goal. Chambers spurned a couple of decent chances when he rushed the shooting chances and failed to cause Thompson undue concern. On 14 minutes WAKE fired a free-kick, with the aid of the following wind, that beat the defensive wall and left Thompson grasping at fresh-air. The feat was almost repeated two minutes later when McCabe fired a low shot from range, but the woodwork came to the rescue for the hard-pressed United defence. The visitors somehow held out until five minutes before the break but eventually the pressure was always going to tell. MURPHY took advantage of some space and netted following a melee near the goal. JONES then added a third to underline Latics’ dominance of the first half.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 3-0 Winsford United.

Winsford started the second half with purpose, and with the wind at their backs they certainly carried a much greater threat in attack. Callachan and Spencer both had to produce quality defensive work to hold United at bay. Cooper and Howarth were both particularly prominent for the visitors, but despite the pressure they were not able to really trouble Abbott in the home goal.  Wigan, for their part, continued to look dangerous on the break, and while the sustained pressure of the first half was not repeated they did force Thompson into action after a flowing passing move which ended with a well struck shot from Hughes.

Wigan adapted their play to cope with the strong wind and tended to build up play on the floor with good passing and movement. The movement of Murphy was curtailed slightly by the rough treatment that Spence was dishing out and the referee had cause to talk to both men as tempers flared. Long shots by Tew and Blunt were collected by Abbott and when Blunt struck a free kick well wide it was clear that the United attack was running out of ideas.

With their opponents effectively blunted the Latics began to press forward and the wing-men were beginning to look increasingly threatening as the previously spasmodic supply to McCabe and Chambers grew into a steady flow of through balls. On 69 minutes Hughes broke away from the attentions of Treanor and Oakes before delivering a delightful cross that CHAMBERS raced in to head home.

Wigan had a good penalty shout turned down when McCabe struck a shot that appeared to hit a defenders’ arm. Then Shaw forced a smart save from Abbott as Winsford briefly threatened.

Hughes was foiled by Thompson as he raced through but the save proved to be just a momentary reprieve and as the game neared its end the winger raced at speed down the right flank and fired over another precise cross that CHAMBERS met with a neat header to complete the scoring.

With Hyde United having lost to Tranmere Rovers reserves 2-1, the two points saw Wigan climb into second spot, just behind their next opponents Northwich Victoria

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 5-0 Winsford United.

Attendance; 5,000

Scorers; Chambers (69), (88), Murphy (40), Wake (14), Jones (43);

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

WINSFORD—Thompson; Wilkinson, Oakes; Spence, Blunt, Treanor; Howarth, Shaw, Cooper, Tew, Simpson;

Referee; J. Roscoe (Bolton)