Report by SJG

 CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

SANDBACH RAMBLERS   vs   WIGAN ATHLETIC

24^th September 1932

ANOTHER AWAY VICTORY.

It is quite evident that playing away from home is little or no handicap in itself to Wigan Athletic, a fact again demonstrated last Saturday, when they picked up the full points at Sandbach at the expense of the local Ramblers, rather if there is any handicap in these away matches does it lie in the inferior quality of some of the grounds compared with Springfield Park, Nantwich was a case in point and although Sandbach Ramblers boasted a rather better playing surface than their Cheshire League colleagues possessed it could not bear any comparison with the home of the Athletic, for in addition to undulations which caused the ball to ‘kick’-off in all directions on the bounce, the spectators were too close all around the enclosure and it was evident also that the Wigan players had a feeling of being cramped by the spectators lining the touchlines.

The Ramblers came into the game occupying the bottom position in the Cheshire League table and the Athletic confidently anticipated a win on Saturday, a confidence that appeared to be fully justified when they deservedly scored the first three goals of the match, but the Ramblers were a plucky lot, and refused to give up hope. A penalty goal just before the interval helped to spoil the Athletics’ improving goal average, and a clever goal shortly after the resumption placed the Ramblers in the running for a share of the points, but although Latics seemed to ease up in the second period, and did not repeat their first half dominance, the home side were not capable of much in the way of really constructive football and were kept well in check. One glorious chance to widen the margin came to Murphy near the close, but he unaccountably failed to score from the easiest of positions, and this represented the only ‘flea’ in his afternoons good work. The attendance was only around eight-hundred, despite the ideal weather.

Chambers returned to the starting XI, having now fully recovered from his injuries, and this certainly seemed to add to the potency of the Latics forward line. McCabe played well in a supporting role and his industrious work around the main striker suggested that the two could become a formidable partnership in attack. Wake was carrying a knock and whilst he travelled with the team he was the man who stepped down to make room, with Jones dropping into a more defensive role.

By winning the toss the Athletic had first use of the slight slope and were quickly foraging for an opening. In the first minute Bourne, in attempting a clearance with a flying kick, sent the ball to Gittens stomach, and doubled his colleague up, but he soon recovered. The Athletic early demonstrated the better team work, but now and again their passes were played too strongly to the wings until the players became more used to the comparatively small ground. A dash and centre by Ingleby nearly succeeded when Abbott was prevented from clearing but the danger passed when Mannock headed well over the Wigan bar. A couple of corners for Wigan proved useless, but from a good centre by Hughes, Chambers headed the ball just wide of the mark, and later sent a shot just over the crossbar. It was quite evident that the Athletic were out for shooting practice. Jones wrenched his thigh in reaching for a through pass, and was soon in the wars again when his head made contact with that of an opponent, and he was some time before he responded to the trainers’ attentions and resumed play. Sproston fed a pass to Ingleby and the winger sent in a shot, but Spencer smartly headed the ball behind for a corner, which was easily cleared.

Back went the Athletic to the attack and Bourne made a smart clearance, later stopping a header from Smith. Chambers was allowed to continue, though offside, but his shot was wide, he then missed the ball after Hughes had given him a tempting pass, but these were errors largely due to the uneven ground. Spencer showed up prominently as a Wigan defender and the Rambler’s inside forwards found him impassible. A centre by Murphy looked promising but Wallwork headed it over his own bar for a corner, from which Chambers, though closely marked, made a good attempt to hook the ball into the goal.

The home side had another close call when Allon got on the end of a flighted corner from Murphy and his header beat Bourne only for Gittens to clear off the line. On 25 minutes Latics worked the ball well via Spencer, Allon and Chambers and when the ball arrived to SMITH he had the easiest of finishes. Sandbach tried to hit back and Bennett had a shot blocked by Spencer. Chambers then broke through the defensive line and netted, however the goal did not stand as the forward was clearly offside, and he was also guilty of a blatant handball which saw all involved enjoying the joke. Chambers had a more serious effort a few moments later when he fired at goal from close range, only for Bourne to block the effort with his body. Wigan did have an alarm when a 17-year-old named, Bert Sproston, showed Callahan a clean pair of heels before firing at goal, Abbott was on hand and fisted the ball to safety. Sproston would go on to have a fine career with Leeds United and Manchester City, as well as earning representative honours for England as a full-back.

On 32 minutes Hughes made a burst down the wing, and after skipping past two defenders he delivered a fine cross that CHAMBERS headed home with the sweetest of finishes. Three minutes later and the lead was stretched even further when McCabe fed the ball wide to Murphy and his cross was headed home by CHAMBERS.

Sandbach were gifted a route back into the game on 40 minutes when Callachan was rather harshly adjudged to have fouled in the box, when Mannock claimed to have been elbowed in the back, and INGLEBY fired home the resulting penalty kick.

Half Time; Sandbach Ramblers 1-3 Wigan Athletic.

The second period began with Wigan looking to put the result beyond doubt and Chambers played a fine pass to McCabe who unleashed a goal-bound effort which Bourne dealt with well. Chambers and Murphy then fluffed their lines when they impeded each other in their anxiety to score. On 49 minutes the Ramblers grabbed a second goal, Spencer and Abbott made a hash of a clearance and conceded a needless corner. Edmunds swung over the cross and WORRELL rose well to head past a helpless Abbott. 

The home side now had visions of gaining a surprise victory, but Latics, who had been the by far the better side in the game, showed good maturity in the way that they now took back control of the match. Chambers and McCabe exchanged quick passes near the Sandbach goal but the latter failed to connect properly with his shot and the effort went wide of the goal. A 25-yard free-kick from Allon saw Bourne punching clear over the crossbar, then Bourne’s fists were needed again when Murphy jinked inside and fired an effort goalwards. Ingelby was trying hard to find space in which to spark an attack for the home side but O’Dell was keeping a tight rein on the home winger.

Wigans wide men, Hughes and Murphy were causing plenty of problems for the home defence with their tricky, speedy play. Jones, however, had problems of his own as he was repeatedly being pushed by the home fans who were encroaching onto the playing area. The referee had to stop play and remonstrate with the group of spectators. Murphy on the other flank was, on a number of occasions, flagged for offside, when it seemed that it was only the winger’s pace that had carried him clear.

Jones and Murphy both had shots well saved by Bourne, and then following one save Bourne and Murphy got engaged in a tussle for the ball, but the referee’s whistle brought the altercation to a halt.

Latics were still the dominant force but with only a single goal between the teams any mistake could result in the points being shared. Sandbach certainly had not lost their belief and they continued to push hard in attack. On 83 minutes Latics should have put the game beyond doubt when Chambers headed a waist high ball through to Murphy, but the wing man, who was well placed and only six yards from goal, failed to show the required composure and he shot straight at Bourne who saved well.

With minutes left Spencer played a through ball to McCabe, and with the Sandbach side pushed forward in search of the leveller, the forward was able to sprint forward unopposed but his shot flashed across the face of the goal.

Full Time; Sandbach Ramblers 2-3 Wigan Athletic.

Attendance; 1,000

Scorers; Smith (25), Chambers (32)(35); Ingelby (40, pen), Worrell (49).

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

SANDBACH—Bourne; Wallwork, Gittens; Niblett, Worrall, G Sproston; Edmunds, B Sproston, Mannock, Bennett, Ingelby;

Referee; J. Poyser (Manchester)