Report by SJG

CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

WIGAN ATHLETIC   v NANTWICH TOWN

4^th February 1933

WIGAN REJOIN THE TITLE RACE WITH BIG WIN.

Macclesfield are leading the way in the title race but a group of sides are in hot pursuit and one of those sides, despite their wobble over the New Year, are Wigan.

Wigan achieved a win at Nantwich in a close fought battle, so no-one would have expected the rout that was witnessed in this encounter. McCabe notched a hat-trick and in so doing he became only Wigan player other than Chambers to achieve this feat.

There was little to choose between the sides in the early stages with France firing over following a quick break and for Wigan Murphy looked to have broken clear only for the offside flag to stop his progress. Hughes then went free down the wing and played in a good cross that was the prelude to a sustained period of Wigan pressure. Herod in the visitor’s goal was now a busy man as he fielded a number of shots to ensure the scoreline remained blank.

On 35 minutes CHAMBERS opened the scoring with a well struck drive from close range that gave Herod no chance. Hughes nearly grabbed a second but the woodwork came to the rescue of the Nantwich defence. MCCABE soon doubled the lead, he jinked through the defence and as Herod came out to narrow the angle he slid the ball into the empty net. With the visitors all at sea CHAMBERS cashed in again and broke away from his markers to fire home a third.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 3-0 Nantwich Town.

The second half was played almost entirely in the Nantwich Town half as Wigan applied relentless pressure. Chambers had two early chances to complete his hat-trick, but Herod saved brilliantly at his feet on the first occasion and then the forward missed his kick when the second chance arose. Dunn headed clear from a Murphy corner, then Spencer had a long-range effort saved by Herod. On 63 minutes the inevitable fourth goal arrived. Hughes floated a ball into the box and Chambers headed down to MCCABE. The Wigan man took the ball in his stride before powerfully driving home. A minute later Spencer released HUGHES down the wing, and after checking inside he unleashed an unstoppable effort to further extend the lead. Latics were now in full flow and on 70 minutes McCabe beat two men before sliding in Hughes. The winger burst into the area and was upended by an ill-judged Nantwich challenge, MCCABE took the ball and fired home the spot kick that resulted. Slack passing between two Nantwich defenders then allowed HUGHES to intercept on eighty minutes and his cross shot found the corner of the net.

In the remaining minutes Chambers had two good chances to secure his hat trick but Herod got the better of him on both occasions with excellent goalkeeping.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 7-0 Nantwich Town.

Attendance; 4,000

Scorers; Chambers (35), (43), McCabe (39), (63), (75, pen), Hughes (64), (80);

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

NANTWICH—Hughes; Platt, Roberts; Dunn, Simon, Dandy; Mountford, France, Johnson, Pinxton, Broad;

Referee; G. Reece. (Birkenhead)

Nantwich had to do without their experienced tricky winger Henry James Boston, who had played for Bolton and West Brom, due to illness.

The change which was last minute in nature undoubtedly upset their build up to the game and affected the team’s performance.

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Wigan climbed to fourth spot in the table, with Ashton National, Wigan next opponents sliding down following a defeat at Congleton.