Report by SJG

CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs MOSSLEY

 4^th April 1934

‘REVENGE IS SWEET’ FOR LATICS DESPITE LOSS OF ROBSON.

Wigan had fallen to a heavy defeat earlier in the season against the Lilywhites when they were on the wrong end of a 5-2 scoreline. This match offered the high-flying Latics an opportunity to gain a measure of retribution.

Wigan were forced to make one change to the starting XI with youngster Prosser coming in for the injured O’Dell in defence.                      

This game made it seven games in thirteen days, a run of games that has really tested the stamina of the players and the depth of the squad. However, a win against Mossley would help Wigan to extend their lead over last season’s champions Macclesfield to two points, with a game in hand.

Wigan began well with Wallbanks playing a long ball to Felton who, in turn, released Cherry on the flank and when he crossed the lively SNAITH was first to react slipping the ball past Barnes from close-range. The visitors looked to respond and Henshall provided a dangerous cross which had Wigans defence scrambling to clear.                                                                                      

Wigan roared back onto the attack and Hitchen played in Cherry, but the winger delayed his shot and that allowed Connor to produce a well-timed sliding tackle and avert any danger. Snaith was similarly guilty of passing up a good shooting chance after Cherry, who this time was the provider, played him through on goal.                                               

In the 25^th minute Latics doubled their lead when Scott fed the ball through to SNAITH, the striker exchanged passes with Cherry before finishing with a smart low drive. Undismayed Mossley struck back with a series of promising attacks which saw Bate and Birtles both have worthy efforts that just failed to hit the target.                                         

Just after the half-hour a sickening collision between Robinson and Robson saw the Wigan centre-half being forced to retire from the game and a quick reshuffle saw Snaith deployed in defence and Hitchen taking over as centre-forward.                                                     

The visitors applied the pressure as Wigan tried to come to terms with the changes and the loss of their influential number five. A corner kick caused problems in the home penalty area and there was general relief in the crowd when Bate blazed a shot well over the goal.           

Wigan grabbed a precious third goal on 42 minutes when a quick break saw Felton feeding Cherry and he in turn squared the ball for HITCHEN to beat Barnes with an accomplished finish.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 3-0 Mossley

The teams turned around immediately to make the best of the fading light and Mossley pushed forward to try and gain a foothold in the game. Wigan looked disorganised and Robinson, on two separate occasions, was on hand to intercept crosses from the tireless Henshall.                                                                                                                                     

Five minutes after the change of ends the visitors got the goal that their probing had threatened. The ball was worked forward to Hurst who passed to HENSHALL and the winger checked inside before unleashing a close-range shot that Caunce could only help into the net.                                                                                                                                        

Latics had to dig deep to keep the visitors at bay but on 73 minutes a quick break by Scott saw him outsmart Westerby before crossing for Cherry who slipped in HITCHEN to put the game beyond the Lilywhites.                                                                                               

Hitchen nearly completed his hat-trick with a header that was only inches wide, but Mossley also had their moments with Bate bringing a fine diving save from Caunce in the home goal. Scott went close with a powerful drive, but Connor got back to hack the ball off the Mossley goal line.                                                                                                                       

Denton and Birtles both had late chances to give the score a more realistic look, but Cowper managed to frustrate the latter and the former blazed his opportunity over the crossbar.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 4-1 Mossley.

Scorers; Snaith (5), (25), Hitchen (42), (73); Henshall (50).

Attendance; 3,900

Team; WIGAN ATHLETIC--Caunce; Robinson, Prosser; Wallbanks, Robson, Cowper; Cherry, Hitchen, Snaith, Felton, Scott.

MOSSLEY. ---Barnes; Westerby, Connor; Scholes, Hughes, Bell; Henshall, Denton, Hurst, Birtles, Bate.

Referee; Mr. G.A. Nixon (Manchester)