Report by SJG

CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

NANTWICH TOWN   vs   WIGAN ATHLETIC

10^TH SEPTEMBER 1932

VICTORY AFTER A HARD STRUGGLE.

Wigan earned both points on offer at Nantwich in a game that was something of a scrappy affair. The Wigan starting line-up saw Allon returning from injury, with Spencer stepping down, and Chambers, who picked up an injury in the later stages of the cup tie at Chester being replaced by Alan Hughes, a winger, born in the North east, who had recently been on Blackpool’s books, and who signed for the club on the Friday evening before the game.

Latics opened the game in dominant fashion and for the first twenty minutes they controlled the pace and pattern of play. The passing and build up play were quick and accurate and the Nantwich defence struggled to cope with the constant probing. 

McCabe had an early effort that was well saved by Jones, but the Nantwich keeper was proving a little shaky and his handling was suspect as he nearly spilled a later shot at the feet of the waiting Latics striker.  The newly signed Hughes was showing good speed on the right wing and he sprinted past two Nantwich men before picking out McCabe with an accurate cross but the centre forward saw his crisp shot turned over the bar.  With such dominance the goal, when it came, was no surprise, Hughes latched onto a pass from Allon before beating his man and crossing onto the head of MCCABE who planted his header into the net.  

Nantwich tried to respond and they got a dangerous looking cross in from the left, but Callachan was there to intercept and clear the danger.  

Wake and Henderson linked well to set Murphy free on the left flank, and the wing-man nipped past his marker before feeding in McCabe who fired in a terrific drive that was well saved. Wigan were now peppering the home goal, McCabe saw a fine shot strike the crossbar, with Jones beaten. Gradually the home defence was coming to terms with the pace of the Latics forward line, and realising that they could not match the running they chose to deploy an offside trap and whilst it may not have been popular with the Wigan fans it served its purpose as the attacks were nullified and the home side was finally able to get into the game. 

On the half hour Abbott in the Latics goal, who thus far had been a mere spectator, was called upon to make his first save when he turned over the bar a fierce drive by Pinxton, after good wing play by Boston had created the shooting opportunity.  The resulting corner saw Wigan scrambling in defence and Williams had an effort that Abbott was able to collect. Boston continued to prove the home sides most dangerous player and one of his crosses struck the arm of Callachan and the referee pointed at the penalty spot. Platt stepped up and struck a fine penalty low down to the keepers right, but Abbott flung himself full length to make a wonderful save. 

Half Time; Nantwich Town 0-1 Wigan Athletic.

The second half started with Nantwich pushing forward in numbers and stretching the Wigan defence at every opportunity. The winger Boston was a constant thorn in the Latics side as his tricky running started to find holes that could easily of yielded an equaliser, but for poor finishing and good goalkeeping. Abbott, expertly anticipated a Williams shot and saved well, then Mountford was presented with a glorious chance but he flashed his shot wide of the target. On 51 minutes Callachan conceded a corner and the resulting cross fell loose in the Latics area. Abbott tried to claim the ball, but MOUNTFORD got his foot there first and fired home despite the despairing effort of Jones who tried to block the shot on the goal-line. Encouraged by this success the home side pushed hard for another goal and Abbott had to be alert to save a succession of long-range shots. The hard, bumpy, uneven pitch appeared to suit the home sides more direct play and Wigan struggled to re-assert their more cultured passing game.  Wigan gradually forced their way back into the contest and Hughes with a fast break stretched the Nantwich defence and when his cross found McCabe the resulting header forced a desperate save from the home keeper. Murphy then went close with a powerful shot that passed just wide of the upright.

Latics had a luck escape with 70 minutes on the clock, when a long ball caused confusion as Callachan and jones both hesitated and left the ball for Abbott. Mountford was able to nip in and round Abbott, but his shot from a tight angle only found the side-netting. On 76 minutes Wigan grabbed the decisive break-through. Hughes found some space and ran at the fullback Dunn. The full -back, who must have been sick of the sight of the pacey wide man, was adjudged to have committed a foul and MCCABE stepped up to fire home the resulting penalty kick. The home side pushed hard for an equaliser but their only real opportunity fell to Boston and his shot was well saved by Abbott. Then in the dying minutes Wigan launched a counter-attack that nearly saw Hughes latching on to a through ball, that would have allowed him to score the goal that his man-of-the-match performance deserved. However, on this occasion he lost out in the foot race to the Northwich keeper, who was able to clear the ball.

Full Time; Nantwich Town 1-2   Wigan Athletic.

Attendance; 500 (estimated)

Scorers; Mountford (51); McCabe (8) (76, pen);

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

NANTWICH TOWN—Jones; Platt, Dunn; Lee, Simon, Carr; Boston, Williams, Mountford, Pinxton, Slight;   

Referee; J.J. Gracie (Birkenhead)