Report by SJG

CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

RUNCORN   vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

24^th December 1932

A CHRISTMAS CRACKER.

It may be the season of goodwill but the referee, Mr Coatup of Birkenhead perhaps took things a step too far when he awarded the home side a last-minute penalty to gift them a share of the points.

Wigan began well in good weather conditions and they forced an early corner which saw Jamieson heading just wide. Spencer played a good pass that sent Hughes into space, but the winger blazed his shot over the bar.

McCabe was more accurate with his shot shortly afterwards but Molyneux was alert and palmed the effort round the post.

After five minutes Wigans bright start was rewarded. Hughes chased a through ball and just caught it before it ran dead. He pulled back a teasing cross and MCCABE arrived on cue to head home.

Houghton was set free by a neat pass and the Runcorn man looked odds-on to score but the debutant Davies made an excellent save to deny the chance.

The Runcorn defence operated a well drilled offside trap and the Wigan forwards were frequently caught being too eager to make their forward runs.

On twenty minutes Brown was carried off the field following a hefty challenge and although he returned later to finish the game, his leg was heavily strapped and he was little more than a passenger.  With Runcorn handicapped with an injured player it seemed certain that Wigan would force home their advantage but good defending and wayward shooting combined to ensure this was not the case. In fact, it was Runcorn who went the closest to scoring when Cameron miskicked when free in front of goal. The Linnets also had a good appeal for a penalty when the ball appeared to strike the hand of both Spencer and Callachan, but to Latics relief the referee ruled this as accidental and played on. Hughes came the closest to adding to Wigans slender advantage when his shot thudded against the post, and he had another effort that Molyneux saved with aplomb.

Half Time; Runcorn 0-1 Wigan Athletic.

If the first half had been scrappy and the play was punctuated with stoppages, then the second half was even worse. Both sides were guilty of over doing the rough play, but the persistent use of the offside trap by the home side, along with some overly enthusiastic flagging by the linesman, just added to the crowd’s frustrations. Chambers and Hughes were both flagged as offside when they each looked to have timed their runs well and were odds-on to score. Murphy produced two delightful crosses, but Hughes failed to connect with the first when well placed, and then McCabe saw his effort well saved by Molyneux. Runcorn’s chances were well restricted by the Wigan defence but Hooley did produce a dipping shot from range that passed just over the bar.

Latics should have secured both points when Hughes got free, drew the keeper and then slipped the ball to the side for Chambers to roll the ball home, only for the Wigan leading -scorer to lose concentration and let the ball bobble over his foot. Christmas really had come early for the Runcorn team. Miller for the home side was having an influential game in the centre of the park and his efforts were crucial in keeping Wigan at bay. Runcorn, with the clock against them threw more men forward and Davies had to fist clear an effort by Brown. The Latics keeper was helpless though when Houghton was left in space, but his shot was just wide of the target.

With two minutes to go Cameron struck a wild shot that struck Spencer in the stomach leaving the Wigan man doubled up. The Wigan defender was stretchered off the field, such was the force of the blow. Unaccountably the referee awarded a penalty as Spencer was ushered from the field and despite vociferous protests the referee was not to be swayed. MILLER fired home the spot kick with what was to be the last kick of the game. Davies went the right way and got a hand to the ball but he was just unable to make the save.

Full Time; Runcorn 1-1 Wigan Athletic.

Attendance; 3,000

Scorers; McCabe (5); Miller (90, pen);

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

RUNCORN—Molyneux; Pearson, Burgess; Jones, Miller, Richards; Hooley, Houghton, Cameron, Taylor, Brown.

Referee; G.H. Coatup, (Birkenhead).