Report by SJG

CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

CHESTER RESERVES   vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

12^th November 1932

CHESTER END LATICS FINE AWAY RECORD.

Wigan made one change to their starting XI with Henderson, who had been impressing in the reserves, coming into the side to replace Jones.

Chester selected a very strong line-up that included seven players with regular first team experience. It was clear that they were out for revenge after being dumped out of the cup by the Latics.

The game began at a fast pace and Hughes was the first to show his ability when he burst past both Butler and Parker before delivering a good cross that Burke just managed to fist clear before Chambers could divert the ball into the net. The right wing was definitely producing the most promising breaks for the Latics and another Hughes cross found Henderson, who perhaps should have taken on the shot, but he laid it left to Murphy who fired just wide.

The midfield battle was highly competitive and the tackling by both sides was ferocious at times. Henderson felt the full force of one such challenge when he was hauled down by Jolly, but the resulting free kick, by Wake, failed to trouble the keeper. Chambers was played in by McCabe, but he snatched at the shot and it passed harmlessly across the face of the goal. The Chester wingman Griffiths was proving an elusive runner and much of Chesters best play was coming from his pace and trickery. One of his crosses found Jennings, but the centre forward hooked his shot narrowly wide. A Latics corner caused panic in the Chester goalmouth and when the ball was only partly cleared it fell to Henderson, who opted not to shoot but played a nice reverse pass to pick out McCabe, the striker shot low and hard but the keeper made a scrambling save. Chester then had a series of attacking raids but failed to pierce the Latics back line. Allon then played a nice pass to Hughes who waltzed round Parker before cutting inside and firing in a shot that Burke did well to palm over the bar. At the other end Ferguson had a good shot that Abbott did well to parry, the loose ball fell to Stevenson but his shot at the unguarded goal was blocked and cleared by Spencer. On 41 minutes McCabe found Hughes with a slide rule pass, the winger delivered a cross that caused confusion in the box and MURPHY arrived at the back post to fire home.

Half Time; Chester Reserves 0-1 Wigan Athletic.

The teams switched ends straight away to make the best of the failing light. On 47 minutes Griffiths broke free of the Wigan back-line (although he looked suspiciously offside). He squared the ball to JENNINGS whose deft feet left Abbot stranded as he rounded the keeper and rolled the ball into the net. Latics tried to strike back as Chambers found Murphy, but under pressure from Burke, the Wigan man lifted his shot over the bar. Chester were playing the better football at this stage of the match and the Wigan defence was being stretched as it tried to withstand the growing pressure. A glancing Jennings header from a Griffiths cross brought a good save from Abbott, who palmed the ball over. O’Dell produced one nice interception that allowed him to release Chambers, but the referee blew for handball as the Wigan striker was deemed to have controlled the ball illegally.

On 63 minutes a long throw proved to be Wigans undoing. Armes threw the ball in, Jennings flicked it on to Webb, and a neat pass gave GRIFFITHS the room to shoot home. Latics looked rattled and Chester grew in confidence such that it took just a further four minutes of play before they extended their lead. Griffiths fed JENNINGS and he produced an exquisite shot that swerved away from the diving Abbott. On 75 minutes Latics got back into the game with a goal that bore many similarities to the one netted by Griffiths. Allon hurled a long throw into the box, McCabe headed the ball to the unmarked HENDERSON, and the ball was slotted home to set up an exciting finish to the match.

The final quarter of the game was punctuated by niggly fouls, free-kicks, and injuries. Hughes and Murphy both spurned chances when their shots failed to find the target, and then Chambers and Burke had what looked like a nasty collision as they tried to win the ball. Both players needed medical assistance, and though they returned to play both seemed still to be dazed. In fact, in the last few minutes, the Chester keeper was seen to collapse and he needed to be stretchered from the field of play.

Full Time; Chester Reserves 3-2 Wigan Athletic.

Attendance; 4,000

Scorers; Murphy (41), Henderson (75); Jennings (47), (67), Griffiths (63);

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

CHESTER—Burke; Rawlinson, Parker; Ferguson, Jolly, Butler; Armes, Jennings, Webb, Griffiths, Stevenson;

Referee; A. Barlow (Northwich)