Report by SJG

CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

CREWE ALEXANDRA RESERVES vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

 27^th January 1934

LATICS FIRE FIVE TO CONFIRM THEIR TITLE CREDENTIALS.

Wigan extended their fine recent form with a fine win at Gresty Road against a strong looking Crewe Alexandra reserve XI and in so doing they stole a march on their fellow title contenders with Stockport County being beaten by Nantwich Town and last years Champions, Macclesfield, being held to a draw by Chester City.

The Wigan starting XI saw Snaith selected as the main centre forward instead of Jones and this allowed the impressive Bentham to retain his position in the forward line. Crewe included a number of first team players in their starting XI and this contributed to a high action contest that was high on skill, entertainment and goals.

After a lively end to end opening when both sides could have scored it was the Railwaymen who took the lead. Bracegirdle found space in the wide areas and floated in a cross that Caunce came out to collect. The Wigan keeper lost his footing as he tried to catch the ball and when the loose ball fell to BUTLER he had the simple task of rolling the ball into an empty, unguarded, net.

Latics went in search of an equaliser and created a number of chances to shoot at the Crewe goal, but on each occasion they failed to find the target. Crewe then went very close to doubling the lead when Anstiss took advantage of a slip by Robinson and whipped in a fine cross that Dyer met sweetly only to be denied by a marvellous save from Caunce.

Wigan reacted well to that let off and on the half hour they managed to level the scores when FELTON exchanged short passes with Scott before firing low past the stranded Johnson.

Crewe pushed forward with Butler taking advantage of another uncharacteristic slip by Robinson and fired a low cross that flew across the face of the visitor’s goal before being cleared to safety.

Another foray by the homesters saw Dyer crash a shot against the Wigan upright but it was the visitors who grabbed the lead five minutes before the break. Scott proved elusive on the wing and fed the ball to BENTHAM who produced a delightful bit of trickery to ease past two defenders before placing his shot into the corner of the home goal.

Half Time; Crewe Alexandra Reserves 1-2 Wigan Athletic.

Five minutes after the resumption Latics added a third goal Kavanagh and Bentham combined well to release Cowper who switched play to the opposite flank to Scott and his whipped cross was met with a ‘picture book’ near post header by SNAITH.

Snaith was now settling into his new role and a fast break saw Crewe scrambling in defence as Scott again picked out the centre forward but he was unable to keep his header down and the ball struck the crossbar and was smuggled to safety by the Railwaymen’s overworked defenders

Wigan added a fourth goal in the 55^th minute when Bentham played another incisive pass to Cowper and he crossed to SNAITH whose hard low shot from close-range flew into the home net.

Facing a daunting 4-1 deficit you might have expected the game to peter out but Crewe were not prepared to roll over and accept defeat and they subjected the Wigan goal to something of an onslaught.

Bracegirdle and Butler both forced Caunce into urgent action, then Felton was adjudged to have upended a Crewe player on the edge of the box and Caunce was forced to make a plunging save to punch clear the well struck free-kick.

On 65 minutes Dyer produced a strong forward run before slipping the ball to ANSTISS (pictured) and he produced a clever lobbed shot that gave Caunce no chance.

Suddenly all the momentum was with the home side and when Anstiss found space on the flank and produced a curling cross BUTLER was on hand to head neatly home.

It was clear to all present that Wigan were now shaking and their normally solid defence was struggling to maintain the lead. A cross by Dyer saw Hills go close with another headed effort.

However, as the clock ran down the Crewe attacks became more desperate and Wigan began to regain the upper hand such that, with two minutes left to play Felton was able to release Scott and he picked out SNAITH who produced great skill to ease past a number of defenders before finishing with aplomb.

Full Time; Crewe Alexandra Reserves 3-5 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Snaith (50), (55), (88), Felton (30), Bentham (40); Butler (5), (70), Anstiss (65);

Attendance; 2,500

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

CREWE ALEXANDRA--- Johnson; Morris, Maddock; Rosson, Dixon, Ashworth; Bracegirdle, Hills, Anstiss, Butler, Dyer;

Referee; Mr. G. Reeves (Tranmere).