Report by SJG

CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

CHESTER CITY RESERVES vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

 13^th January 1934

CLEVER WIGAN DISPLAY GAINS TWO MORE VALUABLE POINTS.

The Chester first team had a free weekend after falling to defeat in the F. A. Cup and this afforded them the chance to field a number of first team regulars in a strong starting XI. Wigan made only one change as the manager chose to rest Bentham after his recent fine performances and in came the much more experienced figure of Snaith.

Chester made the early running as they made good use of a helpful wind to pin Latics on the defensive. Armes played a dangerous ball across the face of the Wigan goal and Vaughan, who was at full stretch, was just unable to get enough of a touch to find the net.

Wigan were looking dangerous on their left flank with Felton and Scott giving Bennett a tough afternoon with their neat interchanges, but their chances were limited by the Cestrian defence and the best efforts arose from set plays with Jones going close with a powerful header that flew wide following a deep corner kick.

Snaith then attempted a long-range strike following good work from Cowper but he just failed to find the target. Chester continued to play progressive football and neat footwork ended with Whittam unleashing a fine shot that forced Caunce, in the Wigan goal, to produce a magnificent diving save.

On 22 minutes the impressive Kavanagh found Cowper and his cross was headed goalwards by Jones. A goal-line melee ensued and when Freeman was adjudged to have handled SCOTT made no mistake from the penalty spot with a low driven finish.

The home side immediately increased their efforts and Wigan were again forced back onto defence and endured a number of anxious moments wit Robinson deflecting a Vaughan shot behind for a corner kick and Caunce making timely interventions to deny Armes (pictured) and Vaughan. The quick and elusive McLachlan was kept well in check by the experienced O’Dell and eventually the storm was weathered and Wigan began to offer more by way of attacking threat.

Half Time; Chester City 0-1 Wigan Athletic.

Chester began the second period, like the first, and Wigan were again forced to defend well with Caunce punching a McLachlan cross behind and Bell producing a strong header from the resulting corner that was inches wide. Sammy Armes then wasted a great chance to equalise when he blazed over when well placed.

The home side relied heavily on a well operated offside trap to frustrate the Wigan forays into attack and Scott and Felton were kept in check until Snaith produced a perfectly timed through pass, Felton passed to Scott and his first-time shot skimmed the Chester crossbar. The home centre-half Morris headed wide after great work by McLachlan, who outpaced both Kavanagh and Robinson, had stretched the Wigan defence.

Latics were now relying largely on breakaways and another Snaith pass released Cowper but his cross, which fell nicely to Jones, was wasted when the striker fired across the face of the home goal.

On 65 minutes McLachlan was bundled over the Wigan box and the home players and crowd appealed for a penalty but the referee, after consulting with his linesman, waved away the claims.

Barely a minute later and Wigan doubled their advantage, Kavanagh played a measured pass to Cowper who beat Bell and whipped in a cross that picked out SCOTT who steadied himself before unleashing a left footed swerving drive that gave Jones in the home goal no chance.

Two minutes later Kavanagh again released Cowper who crossed for FELTON who produced delightful footwork to wrong foot Freeman and ghost past Jones before walking the ball into the Chester net.

As the game entered its closing stages tempers flared and a series of free-kicks broke up play which allowed the Cestrians to establish some degree of dominance but they failed to turn their late chances into goals as Armes, Vaughan, Kay and McLachlan all failed to register.

Full Time; Chester City 0-3 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Scott (22, pen), (66), Felton (68);

Attendance; 4,000

Team; WIGAN---Caunce; Robinson, Talbot; Kavanagh, O’Dell, Robson; Cowper, Snaith, Jones, Felton, Scott;

CHESTER CITY--- Jones; Bennett, Freeman; Pitcairn, Morris, Ball; Armes, Whittam, Vaughan, Kay, McLachlan;

Referee; Mr. F. N. Roberts (Liverpool).