Report by SJG

CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

WIGAN ATHLETIC   vs BUXTON

19^th November 1932

BUXTON KNOCKED FOR SIX.

Buxton paraded their new signing from Hull City, Thomas Flannigan, he filled the inside left berth for the visitors and was one of the more prominent performers, although whether he did enough to justify a transfer fee of £750 was debatable. The visitors did start the game brightly and Wigan seemed to take time to settle into their normal rhythm. An early cross by Bardsley found the head of Ralsbeck who forced Abbott into action. Chambers looked likely to get in a telling strike at the other end, but Royle was able to smother any chance.

In the tenth minute, a cross by Woods tempted Abbott from his goal-line but FLANNIGAN was able to reach the ball before the Wigan keeper and directed his effort into the unguarded net to give Buxton a surprise lead.

Wigan began to get some joy on their left wing and Murphy began to supply a number of useful passes to offer opportunities for Chambers and McCabe. However, the Buxton defence were operating a well drilled offside trap that served to snuff out many of the Latics forays.

Wigan found the equaliser after twenty minutes. A free kick was awarded for a foul just outside the penalty area. Wake stepped up and drove a shot goalwards that looked certain to find the back of the net, but CHAMBERS decided to make absolutely sure, and touched the ball home with a deft header. The goal settled the home side and Latics became much more dominant and Buxton were forced increasingly onto the back foot. Royle had to be alert to save a dipping shot from Hughes and Chambers looked to have found himself in a scoring position, only for Wallis to block his effort. Latics went close from the resulting corner kick, but despite a goalmouth melee the defence stood firm.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 1-1 Buxton.

It took Wigan five minutes to gain the lead after the interval when a Hughes corner picked out SPENCER who fired home first time from 12 yards.  This would be the player-managers only League goal for Latics, but it was memorable because of its sublime execution, and the circumstances in which it arose. Wigan were now achieving a level of dominance in general play that suggested that more goals would follow, and they surely did.

CHAMBERS collected the ball on the half way line and fed a nice pass to McCabe, the ball was delivered back to the Wigan centre forward who finished in some style. Buxton seemed to be tiring and the pressure that Athletic were now applying was making them look increasingly ragged in defence. Two minutes later and Murphy found a precise cross that CHAMBERS headed home to complete his hat-trick.

Barely another minute had passed before Hughes showed trickery on the flank before pulling the ball back to CHAMBERS who could hardly miss and he gave the keeper no chance as he netted his fourth and the Athletics fifth.

Buxton, to their credit, did not allow their heads to drop and they briefly threatened to counter with a series of attacks of their own, but the Wigan defence, which is fast gaining a reputation in the league for its obdurate nature, held firm.

McCabe had a snap shot that flew over the bar, after good work from Hughes had created space for the striker. Then Hughes, not for the first time in the afternoon, skipped past his marker and crossed to CHAMBERS, who else, and the Latics man fired home with his left boot to complete the scoring for the afternoon.

The game, thereafter, petered out as Wigan resorted to long-range shooting practice, and Buxton sat deep as they tried to avoid any further humiliation. McCabe picked up a knock and had to leave the field for treatment,

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 6-1 Buxton.

Attendance; 6,000

Scorers; Chambers (20), (52), (54), (55), (70), Spencer (50); Flannigan (10);

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

BUXTON—Royle; Wallis, Parker; Machent, Walker, Eastwood; Bardsley, Woodhouse, Ralsbeck, Flannigan, Woods

Referee; J. J. Gracey (Birkenhead)

Murphy had played in the Buxton game despite carrying a knock from the encounter with Chester, however the injury appeared to hinder the Latics man in the second half and it is unlikely that he will start in the upcoming Cup match with Runcorn.