Report by SJG

CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

WIGAN ATHLETIC   vs CONGLETON TOWN

29^th October 1932

MATCH ABANDONED IN FARCICAL CIRCUMSTANCES

In common with many other games on this day a game that would under normal circumstances have attracted a healthy crowd only drew a meagre 4,000 fans due to the atrocious weather. The whole afternoon turned into one huge farce, the first half was played in persistent heavy rain, but no-one could have predicted what was to follow.

The first half began and Latics quickly settled to their task and made light of the heavy rain as they made several forays down the flanks and delivered a number of dangerous crosses into the penalty area. The Congleton defence worked hard to clear any danger and did so successfully until one miscued clearance fell to the unmarked HUGHES and he rifled home. Chambers had a shot that passed narrowly over the bar, then Jones went closer still when his shot struck the woodwork.

Congleton broke the shackles and pressed forward and Watkin had a good shot well saved by Abbott. With ten minutes played Allon fed a neat through ball that sent CHAMBERS in on goal, the Latics forward outfoxed Moseley and fired home the second goal. HUGHES struck again for a dominant Athletic side, he chased a long ball and just kept it in play, the visitors stopped awaiting a flag and extracted the full price by hooking a shot that Coleman, the Congleton keeper, could only help into the net. Latics grabbed two more goals before the break, CHAMBERS netting from one of many Murphy crosses, and then the same man, CHAMBERS, then added a fifth, to emphasise the extent of Wigans dominance of proceedings.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 5-0 Congleton Town.

Wigan used the half-time break to change their tops, and turned out in the second half wearing white tops and black knickers (shorts). Congleton had no such luxury and had to continue in their rain sodden kit. Three Congleton players, Watkin, Brereton and Parker remained in the changing rooms and the visitors, who had been over-run in the first half, lined up with only eight men. The reason given was numbness due to the cold and rain, and the assertion was that as a result they were unfit to continue. The expectation was that Latics would now run riot with a glut of goals, but the Congleton defence actually performed with remarkable resilience. JONES did find the net after good work from McCabe had created a clear opening.

Murphy was causing all sorts of problems with his runs down the wing and his dangerous crosses and it was not a surprise when Colman misjudged one of these crosses and ALLON headed home. What was more of a surprise was the sudden collapse of Rushton, which resulted in him being carried from the field with exposure. The remaining Congleton players surrounded the referee and demanded the game be abandoned, the Wigan players, who seemed fairly unaffected demanded the game continue. Abbott in the Wigan goal had been a virtual spectator and could have been forgiven for feeling the cold more than most seemed perfectly okay.

The game went on for another five minutes, but when Hood collapsed in midfield the referee decided that the only solution was to take the teams from the field of play.

MATCH ABANDONED; after 68 minutes

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 7-0 Congleton Town.

Attendance; 4,000

Scorers; Hughes (5), (30), Chambers (10), (42), (44), Jones (50), Allon (63);

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

CONGLETON TOWN—Colman; Moseley, Briscoe; Brereton, Connelly, Rushton; Hood, Bailey, Watkin, Charlesworth, Carter;

Referee; E. Plinston. (Warrington)

The decision to abandon the game was met, predictably, with consternation by both the Wigan team and the crowd.  It was unclear initially whether the result would stand or whether the game would be deemed void and the match replayed at a later date. The process would see the referee submit a report to the League committee and they would decide on the issue.

Ironically a win would have seen Wigan Athletic climb to the top of the League as Northwich had dropped further points.

The conditions for the spectators were aided greatly by the newly erected cover, but the game had shown that further work was needed and the club sought tenders for the erection of a stand at the Shevington end of the ground. Unfortunately, this was not progressed for a number of years.

For the Wigan Athletic side, it was time to suppress their disappointment, get themselves warmed up again, and then make the trip to Bower Fold to take on a Stalybridge Celtic side who themselves have found some impressive form with a recent 13-0 victory.