Report by SJG

CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

ASHTON NATIONAL vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

 6^th March 1934

IMPRESSIVE WIGAN GAIN ANOTHER BIG AWAY WIN.

Wigan recorded another fine away win after another well drilled defensive performance had ensured that two points would be added to the growing tally as the League title race hots up.

Wigan gave a debut to new signing J. T. Hitchen, a 31-year-old forward who had been on the books of Bolton and had recently been playing for non-league club Tyldesley United. He came in to replace Cowper who was still struggling to recover from a number of knocks picked up in recent encounters.

The game was played in a strong wind that tested all the players because of its gusty nature. Ashton chose to have the wind at their backs in the first half but despite this it was the visitors who were first to threaten with a Scott centre, which looked destined to find the head of Wallbanks, being intercepted by Burke.

Ashton responded with Sayers breaking free on the wing and picking out O’brell with a good cross. The Ashton forward fired in a strong effort but Caunce was able to make a save as he turned the strike around his post.

The home side, with the help of the wind had Wigan pegged back on defence for long periods but despite all their efforts they could not find a way past the seemingly impregnable Latics defence and Wigan had to rely on the occasional breakaway to offer some attacking threat. One such breakaway saw new signing Hitchen outpacing his marker but he slipped at the crucial moment and the chance was gone.

Drinkwater was giving the Wigan defence a lot of problems and he was producing a string of dangerous crosses that had Robson and his fellow defenders working hard to clear. These problems got worse when O’Dell had to leave the game for lengthy treatment following a bad kick on the knee.

Sharples went close with an effort that skimmed the Wigan crossbar, but despite the heavy pressure the visitors defence stood firm and saw out the remainder of the half.

Half Time; Ashton National 0-0 Wigan Athletic.

Two minutes after the restart and Wigan grabbed a lead that they barely deserved. Robinson cleared another Ashton attack and fed the ball to Snaith who played a through ball that just evaded the home defence to allow WALLBANKS to collect and place his shot into the corner of the home net.

National went in search of an early reply and quick play by Drinkwater and Mulligan caused confusion in the Wigan defence with Caunce rushing from his goal but failing to collect the ball and only a timely intervention by Robson saw the attack foiled. More good play by mulligan allowed Drinkwater to ghost in and collect a deep cross but his shot was lacking direction and flew wide of the mark.

O’Dell was struggling with the earlier injury and Wigan made a quick tactical change with Wallbanks dropping into defence and O’Dell being pushed further forward. The change proved effective as Wallbanks looked assured in his new position and O’Dell added some height to the attack which saw him heading narrowly wide after Hitchen had supplied a high cross.

Caunce was called upon again to make a save from a close-range effort by Sayers, but it was Wigan who were enjoying a better spell of possession and after O’Dell had fired just wide it was the turn of Burke in the home goal to excel with a fine save to deny a diving header by Hitchen.

On 70 minutes Wigan doubled their lead when O’Dell played a neat pass to SCOTT who exchanged passes with Felton before planting the ball past Burke with a low left footed drive.

Suddenly the whole momentum of the game changed and it was Wigan who were looking the much more likely to add to the scoreline. National were now struggling to break free of their own penalty area and a well delivered corner was met by Scott who crashed an effort against the Ashton crossbar.

More Wigan pressure followed and a Talbot free kick led to a melee in the home six-yard box and only brave defending by Strong saw the ball smuggled to safety. Strong was rewarded for his bravery with a sizeable bruise that needed attention before the game could restart.

Three minutes from time and Wigan added a third goal. Felton swung a pass to Hitchen who produced a fine dribble that took him past two defenders before he unleashed a shot that struck the crossbar before falling kindly for the waiting SCOTT who scored with ease.

Full Time; Ashton National 0-3 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Wallbanks (47), Scott (70), (87);

Attendance; 3,000

Team; WIGAN---Caunce; Robinson, Talbot; Anderson, O’Dell, Robson; Hitchen, Snaith, Wallbanks, Felton, Scott;

ASHTON NATIONAL---Burke; Gibson, Hayden; Sharples, Barrass, Strong; Mulligan, Sayers, Obrell, Fox, Drinkwater;

Referee; Mr. S. Boardman (Altrincham)