Report by SJG

CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

WIGAN ATHLETIC   vs ASHTON NATIONAL

2^nd January 1933

NOT A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR FOR THE ATHLETIC.

An impressive crowd of 10.500 turned out for the game, but some would have been disappointed as Ashton National’s star player did not feature in the line-up.

Wigan began the footballing year of 1933 in fine style as it took barely a minute for them to grab the lead. Hughes raced down the flank and crossed to an unmarked CHAMBERS, and Wigans top marksman volleyed home emphatically.

Briggs was in no mood to let Latics run away with game and he saved well from McCabe and Jamieson, in fact the Ashton keeper seemed to be quite enjoying himself diving around in the mussy goalmouth, and engaging with the fans in good humour. Chambers nearly grabbed a second but his cross shot struck the inside of the post and then bounced across the goalmouth to strike the other post before it was cleared.

The Ashton goal was living a charmed life but the game changed when Ashton winger SMITH suddenly came to the fore. He received a clever whipped pass from Lindsey before jinking past both Wake and Jones and slotting home past Davies. Three minutes later and SMITH produced another solo effort, he used his pace and dribbling skills to make the most of a breakaway before firing into the Latics net, giving Davies no chance.

Ashton visibly gained in confidence and things got even better for the visitors five minutes later when Drinkwater lofted a ball through and LINDSAY, the ex-Newcastle forward, headed home. Wigan cleared their heads and responded strongly, Briggs had to be sharp to deal with efforts from Chambers and Hughes. Athletic grabbed a goal back just before half time, Murphy broke free of his marker before crossing to Chambers who slipped the ball on to MCCABE and he slid the ball home from close-range.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 2-3 Ashton National.

Having conceded those three goals in eight minutes and with each of the strikes being achieved on the breakaway it was clear that Wigan were wary of over committing in attack. The second half saw Latics dominating play and when Murphy got free on the wing he looked a likely scorer but his shot was deflected behind off Suttie and Athletic had to be content with a corner kick. Wigan were pressing hard and only a combination of poor finishing, good goalkeeping, last ditch defending and the offside flag denied them tan equaliser.

Hughes, on the right wing got the better of Slicer, but Hayden stepped across to block his goal-bound effort. Jamieson was delighting the crowd with an excellent display of passing in the centre, and his probing released Murphy, only for Briggs to produce a full-length diving stop to deny the winger.

As Wigan pushed more men forward the Ashton defence became more desperate and they conceded a number of free kicks for fouls and other infringements. Jamieson was hauled down on the edge of the area and from the resulting set piece McCabe fired in a low shot that Briggs could only parry, the lurking Chambers tried desperately to get the vital touch but the ball was somehow scrambled behind for a corner.

With time running out, and with more men assigned to attack it was almost inevitable that Ashton would find more space on the counter. Smith again was the architect, his running was too much for Jones, who was deputising for the injured O’Dell, and when the ball was crossed into the box LINDSAY finished in style.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 2-4 Ashton National.

Attendance; 10,500

Scorers; Chambers (1), McCabe (43); F. Smith (10), (13), Lindsay (18), (81);

Team; WIGAN-- Davies; Jones, Callachan; Wake, Spencer, Allon; Hughes, Chambers, McCabe, Jamieson, Murphy;  

ASHTON NATIONAL— Briggs; Smith, Hayden; Gibson, Slicer, Suttie; F. Smith, King, Lindsay, Brown, Drinkwater;

Referee; W. H. Dodd (Birkenhead).