Report by SJG

CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

WIGAN ATHLETIC   v CHESTER RESEVES

28^th January 1933

FINALLY -- WIGAN RECORD THEIR FIRST WIN OF THE YEAR.

Latics have played Chester on three occasions already this season and on their last visit to Springfield the team from Sealand road had suffered a heavy 7-0 defeat. The league encounter, at their own stadium, saw Chester record a narrow 3-2 win and thus the home side probably started as slight favourites. The conditions again were far from ideal as the ground was frozen and the bitingly cold conditions kept many fans from turning out and a crowd of 3,485 was the lowest league attendance to date at Springfield Park.

Wigan began well and soon established territorial dominance with the wingers both looking very lively and supplying a steady stream of dangerous crosses. Hughes, McCabe and Chambers all had good shots that Hughes in the Chester goal had to punch clear. Then Jones flashed a header just wide of the goal and the referee denied Wigan a penalty when there looked to be a good case for handball when a Jones shot struck the hand of Salter. The pressure bore fruit in the 14^th minute when Jones, who had been selected ahead of Jamieson, slipped a ball to CHAMBERS who scored with ease. On 18 minutes a Hughes cross was handled by Butler and this time the referee agreed and a penalty was awarded. MCCABE took the spot kick and the keeper, who got a hand to the shot, could not stop the low drive from entering the goal.

With O’Dell back to his best form after injury the Latics backline looked very assured and was also providing a useful springboard for setting up attacking play. Jones was particularly lively and he went close again only for the keeper to push the shot round his post. A series of corners kept Hughes busy fisting clear crosses from amongst a sea of attackers and defenders. The third goal arrived when HUGHES netted after his namesake had only partially parried a shot by McCabe.  Chester briefly broke the free from the stranglehold that Wigan had on proceedings and Williams burst through, he drew Abbott and then lifted his shot over the keeper but O’Dell ran round to cover and succeeded in clearing the ball off the goal line. One minute later and Wigan extended their lead when HUGHES again found space and time to fire home. Wigan could easily have netted again before the break with McCabe and Wake both spurning chances.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 4-0 Chester Reserves.

The Chester manager must have had words at half time as they began the second half with much more purpose. The long ball tactic was used to good effect and Abbott in the Wigan goal was brought into action. Tom Jennings who had captained the Chester first team, and who had the distinction of scoring Chester first ever goal in the Football League on 2^nd September 1931, tried hard to rally his troops but their efforts failed to produce a goal and gradually the better passing movements of the home side allowed them to regain their ascendancy.  Chester stood firm and repelled a number of attacks but in the 75^th minute Jones plied CHAMBERS and he rounded the keeper and fired home. Chambers nearly completed his hat trick when he hooked a shot just over the bar. On 82 minutes Latics netted again in controversial circumstances. Chambers looked offside, but he was allowed to pass to Hughes and his pass picked out MURPHY who netted. Chambers went close again in the dying minutes but he was under pressure and his shot was hurried and missed the target.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 6-0 Chester Reserves.

Attendance; 3,485

Scorers; Chambers (14), (75), McCabe (18, pen), Hughes (31), (38), Murphy (82);

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

CHESTER—Hughes; Salter, Parker; Butler, Robinson, Jolley; Kelly, Jennings, Williams, Vaughan, Griffiths;

Referee; Mr T Atkinson.