Report by SJG

CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE

BUXTON vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

 7^th April 1934

LATICS OVERCOME INJURY CRISIS TO CLOSE IN ON TITLE.

Wigan’s manager Charlie Spencer dusted off his boots and took the field to help shore up a Latics defensive line that was struggling with something of an injury crisis. The busy programme of games was certainly beginning to take a toll on the squad, but Wigan had still managed a handsome haul of points that now saw the sitting pretty at the top of the table. Anderson, Robson and O’Dell were all unavailable and so it seemed like good news that Talbot (pictured below) was passed fit after his recent absence. Unfortunately, the return lasted barely ten minutes before the full back broke down with a recurrence of his original injury.

Wigan started brightly and grabbed an early lead in the fifth minute when Spencer intercepted a wayward pass and slipped the ball to Wallbanks, he in turn played in SNAITH who took the pass in his stride and before Parker could close down the space he let fly with a precise shot that found the far corner of the goal.                                                

Buxton responded with a series of strong raids that saw Caunce saving well to deny Gillies from close range and producing some fine handling to deny Shirley and Brailsford.                           

The home side were making all the running and with the prevailing wind at their backs they continued to press. Wigan, for their part, had to rely on fast counter attacks and one such foray by Felton and Scott saw a whipped cross finding the head of Snaith but the effort was just too high to work Winterbottom in the Buxton goal.                                                                  

Robinson was working hard at full back and made a number of timely interventions which served to make up for Talbot who was now limping badly.  Gillies went close again for the hosts, but his well struck shot flew over the crossbar, then on another fast break Felton played in Hitchen who fired in a shot from fifteen yards, but it was poorly directed and the keeper was able to collect with relative ease.                                                                

Caunce continued to be the busiest man on the park and saved well from Shirley who produced a fizzing drive that had to be palmed to safety. Wallbanks and Spencer continued to work hard to withstand the increasing pressure, and a series of corner kicks were effectively repelled.

Half Time; Buxton 0-1 Wigan Athletic.

The second period continued in much the same fashion with Buxton looking by far the sharper of the two sides and but for wayward shooting and good goalkeeping they would surely have levelled the scores.                                                                                        

Then ten minutes into the second period Wigan produced a neat passage of play that saw Spencer finding Hitchen who fed the ball through for SNAITH who outpaced the defenders, before rounding the keeper and walking the ball into the unguarded net.                                    

Encouraged by this second goal Latics started to pass the ball with greater certainty and Buxton’s dominance of proceedings was broken. Scott sprinted past his marker, Parker, and squared a lovely low cross and only a last-ditch intervention by Wright stopped Snaith grabbing a hat-trick.                                                                                                                        

On the hour mark the home side were gifted a lifeline in the game when the referee awarded a penalty kick.  Gillies, who had made a strong surge into the Wigan area looked to threaten the goal, but Robinson slid in to make a challenge. The referee was in no doubt that the tackle was an infringement and despite protestations of innocence the penalty kick ensued. WRIGHT grabbed the ball and for the first and only time in the game Caunce was soundly beaten.

The game was now back in the balance, but the home sides dominance was no longer apparent, and it was Wigan who were looking the more likely to add to their tally. Cherry was presented with a golden chance, but his shot lacked power and the danger was cleared. Buxton then produced a fine move that saw them cutting a swathe through the Wigan defence, Keighley found space out wide and outpaced the limping Talbot before crossing into the goalmouth for Gillies to fire in a first-time shot that Caunce saved quite brilliantly with a low diving stop at the foot of his post.

Winterbottom was now being called upon on a regular basis as Latics probed for a third goal. Snaith saw a volley pass just wide before Cowper went close with a looping, lobbed effort that went over the keeper before dropping onto the crossbar. Wigan had a strong appeal for a penalty kick of their own when Scott appeared to be barged off the ball by Parker in an overly robust manner, but the referee again sided with the hosts.

The Buxton team now looked tired, and their earlier efforts seemed to have taken a toll on their reserves of energy and as a result it was Wigan who were finishing the stronger with Snaith having a header fumbled by Winterbottom who did well to recover before Hitchen could pounce.

In injury time Scott and Hitchen both had shots that went close and when the final whistle sounded it was Wigan who were able to celebrate.

Full Time; Buxton 1-2 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Snaith (5), (55); Wright (60, pen).

Attendance; 2,500

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

BUXTON ---Winterbottom; Parker, Wright; Halliwell, Walker, Woodhouse; Keighley, Brailsford, Gillies, Shirley, Greenhough.

Referee; Mr. J. Poyser (Manchester)