Report by SJG

CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

PORT VALE RESERVES   vs   WIGAN ATHLETIC

3^rd SEPTEMBER 1932

A VALUABLE AWAY POINT.

Wigan Athletic picked up a valuable point on Saturday in their return match at Hanley with Port Vale Reserves. Vale, who had won at Springfield Park the previous Saturday, would again prove stubborn opposition, but the display put up by the Wigan side earned them many congratulations amongst the 5,000 spectators at the Recreation Ground. Wigan Athletic were the more accomplished team and with a little more steadiness in front of goal, in place of the overeagerness which nullified several scoring chances, they would certainly have come away victorious. The game was a feisty encounter with the players certainly displaying their commitment to the cause and at one point in the first half the game threatened to get out of hand, but a few words of warning by the referee resulted in the smoothing of ruffled feathers.

Wigan put up perhaps their chief resistance in their rear ranks. Jones, who was only signed on two days previously, did well at left full back, being cool and precise in all his work, and on the form shown he will be a valuable addition to the squad. O’Dell moved to right back to fill in for Allon, who was recovering from a knock in the previous game. 

The Athletic are showing themselves to be a force to be reckoned with, and as Port Vale Reserves were last seasons’ runners-up in the Cheshire League Championship, the point that was well earned suggests that the Latics will be competing for honours as the season progresses.

Spencer won the toss, and took advantage of the wind but Port Vale, who faced a dazzling sun, opened in determined fashion. McGrath, who was put through on the right, swung the ball across to the other wing from where Baker cut in and tested Abbott with a low shot. The Athletic soon delighted the crowd with some pretty inter-passing which ended in the ball being pushed through to McCabe. The Wigan centre beat Bliss in a duel for possession, and ran in for a shot, but Breeze came to the rescue in the nick of time by taking the ball off McCabe’s toes. Next, Chambers showed quick feet and hoodwinked Birks, but the wingers centre was intercepted after a clever piece of individual work.  Baker and Nicklin were combining to some purpose on the home right flank. Once, Nicklin cleverly outwitted Spencer and Wake and concluded his solo effort with a rising cross drive, which Abbott saved well by pushing the shot over the bar. Port Vale’s goal had a narrow escape when Allsop mis-kicked and let in Murphy who sprinted forward before crossing to the centre. McCabe fastened on the ball and fired in a diagonal ground shot, which Davies just managed to push away from the goal at full length a clearance being completed by Breeze.

Spencer hesitated to get rid of the ball and was relieved of it by Nolan, who ran half the length of the field before parting with it to Smith. From close range the home inside left fired in a strong shot which Abbott smartly saved.  A moment later Nolan was again in action when he gained possession near the Wigan goal and delivered a terrific low shot arrowing towards the corner of the net but Abbott did well to turn the shot behind. Play continued at a fast pace, the spectators being treated to some lively football in fact there was not a dull moment, while the standard of play was of a high order. Baker and Nicklin, who were often in the limelight; initiated a number of spectacular movements but the alert Wigan defenders did not allow them to develop. After Jones had smartly blocked a shot delivered by Birks from close in, Murphy completed a praise-worthy effort with a perfect pass to McCabe who tricked Allsop and looked all over a scorer until Bliss intervened. Wigan kept hammering away at the Vale goal, and following a scramble just a few yards out McCabe had a glorious chance to put his side in front, but he scuffed his effort. This enabled Davies to save at the expense of a corner. After a well-timed centre by Chambers had been cleared Henderson skimmed the crossbar with a powerful drive. Just prior to the interval there were a couple of ‘scenes’ when Nolan and Spencer and later Birks and Chambers got at loggerheads, this necessitated the intervention of the referee.

Half Time; Port Vale Reserves 0-0 Wigan Athletic.

Port Vale started the second period on the front foot, and launched a couple of dangerous assaults on the Wigan goal. On each occasion Nicklin came near scoring, but he was wide with his first attempt and later failed to reach the ball as it came across from McGrath, and this enabled Spencer to clear. The Athletic quickly carried play to the opposite end. As Henderson sent the ball along to McCabe, the home players appealed for offside, but the referee waved him on. The Wigan striker headed straight for the goal and a score seemed odds on. Davies, however, raced from his line and cleared with a flying kick, just as McCabe was taking aim. Next, Wake, who had been swinging useful passes out to the left, succeeded in sending away Murphy. The left winger cleverly slipped past Allsop and after cutting in smartly fired in a tremendous shot from an acute angle, but Davies was not to be caught napping, for he handled the ball in masterly style, much to the delight of the spectators. 

The Wigan forwards were eager for a score but their probing was unsuccessful as Vale, just as they had done at Springfield Park, mounted a successful defence, and their well marshalled rearguard was proving too strong for the Tics.

Another spectacular burst was made by Murphy, but the forwards were watched so closely that they could not take advantage of the left wingers well placed centres.  After a struggle Henderson managed to get his toe to the ball, but his shot lacked sting. As Davies was clearing Chambers dashed in and in his eagerness to challenge the keeper, who was in a stooping position at the time, his hand somehow caught him in the face. Davies was left temporarily stunned. Chambers being cautioned by the referee for his action. 

Play swung back to the Wigan end where Abbott responded well to the demands made upon him by Smith and he smartly turned a fast curling drive on to the roof of the net. A moment later and Smith had another attempt to put the Vale in front, but again his effort proved futile as this time Abbott pushed the ball round the post. Towards the end the home forwards attempted to rattle the Athletic defence by adopting a more direct approach, but this did not work, as the Wigan defence refused to be out muscled by these methods.

Eventually the siege was raised and Wigan were awarded a free kick near the Port Vale goal when Breeze handled the ball as he stopped Chambers. O’Dell took the free kick but the ever-alert Davies leapt up and brilliantly caught the ball. After Jones had affected yet another clearance during a general mix-up near the Wigan goal, O’Dell created space for Chambers who crossed the ball perfectly. Instead of taking steady aim however, McCabe, who was in a glorious position to score, hurriedly headed the ball which passed harmlessly wide.

In the remaining minutes Latics searched hard for a winning goal, but failed to beat Davies, who cleared two further shots from McCabe.

Full Time; Port Vale Reserves   0-0   Wigan Athletic.

Attendance; 5,000

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

PORT VALE—Davies; Allsop, Breeze; Millington, Bliss, Birks; Baker, Nicklin, Nolan, Smith, McGrath;

Referee; S Egan (Crewe)

Wigan Athletic had performed well in their first three games and whilst a haul of three points may seem quite meagre the manner of their performances and the standard of their opposition was such that the club was optimistic about a strong showing in their debut season.