Report by SJG

CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs NORTHWICH VICTORIA

 31^st March 1934

FELTON PENALTY KICK SENDS LATICS TO THE TOP OF THE TABLE

Easter Saturday saw Springfield Park play host to Northwich Victoria and a crowd of around 6,000 turned out to watch Latics make hard work of grabbing the points and in so doing they climbed into top spot in the League on goal difference, above Macclesfield who fell to defeat at Prescot.                                               

Wigan made a number of tactical positional changes. Anderson returned to the starting XI which allowed youngster Prosser to be rested. O’Dell resumed in his more familiar defensive role which allowed Cowper to push forward into a more attacking position. The man of the match was undoubtedly Jack Prince who performed with great credit in the Northwich goal. The game was punctuated by a series of injuries and the worst of these befell the unlucky Anderson who suffered a reoccurrence of the leg injury that had plagued him in recent weeks, and this resulted in him being little more than a passenger.                                 

Wigan had started the game well enough and were handed a golden chance to take an early lead when the referee awarded a rather contentious penalty kick for a heavy tackle on Cowper.                                         

Scott took the resulting kick, but his effort was not well struck, and Prince made the first of many good stops to keep the scoresheet blank. Prince was involved again when he came out bravely to contest for a high ball in the box, Cowper and Felton both challenged hard for the ball and the keeper was knocked heavily to the floor spilling the ball invitingly in front of the gaping goal, but McDonald was the first to react and hacked the ball to safety.             

Boland and Owen both looked lively for the Vics, but Caunce showed good handling as he fielded their efforts.                                                                                                                 

Cowper produced a fine burst of pace just before half time and his precise pass picked out Scott whose rushed shot failed to find the target.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-0 Northwich Victoria.

Scott, who suffered the most frustrating of games, was twice foiled by the excellent Prince and with the injury count mounting the game became very disjointed. Wallbanks, who had been pushed into a more advanced role finally managed to beat Prince with a flashing header, but it also flew just the wrong side of the post from a wigan point of view.            

Time was beginning to run out and the crowd as well as the players were becoming increasingly anxious, but Wigan were again handed a lifeline when with eleven minutes left on the clock the referee awarded a second spot kick. Snaith made a dangerous burst into the Victoria penalty area, but Williamson quickly closed down the opportunity and blocked the effort. The referee did not observe any offence, but the linesman flagged as he adjudged the block to have been illegal as the ball struck the defenders hands. FELTON was elected to take the second kick, and he calmly stroked the ball past the diving keeper.

Cherry nearly added a second goal for the hosts with a fine effort, but Victoria also looked lively and after a Ferguson long ball Owen evaded his marker and closed in on goal but O’Dell recovered well to deflect the shot behind for a corner. The danger was still not over, and a deep delivery found Booth who fired narrowly over when well placed.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 1-0 Northwich Victoria.

Scorers; Felton (79, pen).

Attendance; 6.000

Team; WIGAN ATHLETIC--Caunce; Robinson, O’Dell; Anderson, Robson, Wallbanks; Snaith, Cherry, Cowper, Felton, Scott.

NORTHWICH VICTORIA. ---Prince; Wooton, McDonald; Williamson, Ferguson, Davies; Venables, Booth, Owen, Willis, Bolland.

Referee; Mr. J. Walker (Manchester)