Report by SJG

CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

WITTON ALBION   vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

14^th January 1933

MORE DROPPED POINTS AS TITLE CHALLENGE FALTERS.

Wigan began the game well and all the early action was centred around the Witton goalmouth. Hughes flashed a centre across the goalmouth but no-one was on hand to apply the finishing touch.  Jamieson was already dominating play with his range of passing and he was finding Murphy in space. A Murphy cross found Chambers but the forward snatched at the shot and it passed over the bar.  Witton struggled to put together anything of note in an attacking sense but Latics, despite their domination and a series of shooting opportunities, but McCabe, Murphy, and Jamieson seemed incapable of hitting the target or testing Bryce in the home goal. The closest Wigan came to a goal was when Lamb attempted a back pass and misdirected the effort which forced Bryce into a frantic stop. A long clearance from defence was collected by Stansfield, who swept a pass to Howard, but the home winger was quickly closed down and dispossessed by Jones.

Wigan continued to press and Spencer picked a fine pass to set Hughes into space, the winger swung over a delicious cross and Chambers produced a bullet header that Bryce saved magnificently as he palmed the ball over the bar. Another fine flowing Wigan move involving Wake, Jamieson and Murphy created a chance for McCabe but his shot deflected off Lamb and was saved. The pressure finally told on 17 minutes, the Witton defence dallied on the ball and MURPHY moved in to claim possession deep in the Albion half of the field. The speedster raced in on goal and fired home to give Wigan the lead they undoubtedly deserved. Witton responded well to going behind and straight from kick off they grabbed an equaliser. Jones was slow to close down Howard and when the cross came into the box the Wigan defence struggled to clear which afforded STANSFIELD the chance to shoot past Abbott.

Albion were clearly buoyed by their success and a minute later they nearly took the lead when Stansfield fired against the foot of the post following another goalmouth melee. Callachan had picked up a knock in trying to defend the most recent onslaught and on 25 minutes he had to leave the field for some extensive treatment. The Wigan man did return, but he was clearly struggling and he was moved to outside right as he was not much more than a passenger.

Half Time; Witton Albion 1-1 Wigan Athletic.

The second half began in the same fashion, with Latics dominating the ball, creating chances, then squandering the opportunities with poor shooting. The injury to Callachan had clearly upset the balance of the side but it did not stop the wingers utilising their pace to provide a steady supply of crosses into the area. Bryce was performing well behind his defence, displaying sure hands and surprisingly good footwork for a tall man.

Albion did however look dangerous on the break and when Banks found Stansfield he fed Howard and Wigan were relieved when the header by Collin passed wide of the post. Collin went close again when McCabe slipped on the greasy pitch and allowed him to burst forward, but Spencer was quick to cover across and avert any danger.

Chambers was being well marshalled by the home defence and there is no doubt that teams are now singling the forward out as a player that warrants close attention. Another Albion break saw Collin unleash a powerful shot but Abbott, now back in the starting line-up, fisted the effort to safety.

Chambers and Murphy both had half-chances but the beat chance fell to Jamieson who rushed the execution of his shot and fired over with the goal gaping. A free-kick taken by Lamb, caused a melee in the Wigan box and Stansfield again managed to engineer a shot on target but Abbott was alert to all possibilities and saved. As both sides pushed for the win tempers flared and Allon and Collin both squared up following one over-zealous challenge. Murphy had a chance to win it deep in injury time, good work by Chambers and Hughes made space, but the wing man fired tamely into the side netting.

Full Time; Witton Albion 1-1 Wigan Athletic.

Attendance; 2,000

Scorers; Murphy (17); Stansfield (18);

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

WITTON ALBION—Bryce; Lamb, Gregory; Banks, Eastwood, Bate; Howard, Ramsden, Stansfield, Purcell, Collin;

Referee; A. Jones (Market Drayton).

Wigan had a free Saturday due to their non-eligibility for the Cheshire County Cup and so they used the chance to arrange a glamour friendly against Rhyl Athletic, old adversaries of Wigan Borough.