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Match Details

Rangers

4-0

Queen's Park

Glasgow Cup
First Cathkin Park (Neutral Venue)
27 November, 1897

Rangers

Matthew Dickie
Davie Crawford
Jock Drummond
Neilly Gibson
Bobby Neil
Davy Mitchell
Tommy Low
John McPherson
R C Hamilton
Jim Miller
Alec Smith

4

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

Queen's Park

Anderson
Ritchie
Gillespie
Allison
Christie
Stewart
Stewart
Butler
McColl
Berry
Lambie

Match Information

Goals

B Neill pen 15
J McPherson <45
A Smith
RC Hamilton 82

Match Information

Manager: No Permanent Manager
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: R Robertson (Partick Thistle)
Matchday:  Saturday

Match Trivia

The opposition provided to the cup holders in this match by Queen’s Park was of such a feeble and disappointing nature that the play calls for only passing observation. It was expected after the fine performance of Queen’s Park over Celtic and other teams that the club would stand a fair chance of winning, but at no part of the game could it be said the Rangers prospects of victory were seriously imperilled. The Spartan-like training the players had undergone ere disposing of the Celtic stood them in good stead, for the turf was heavy, and the harassing play of the Rangers, early revealed that the Queen’s Park players wee unfitted, through inefficient training to last the game. A more disappointing display had rarely if ever been given by a Queen’s Park team in a cu tie, and it would be difficult to recall a game where the players were so completely outclassed as they were in this occasion. Next to the mediocre appearances of Clyde and Partick Thistle in the final stage of the competition in 1889-90 and 1891-92 respectively, comes that of Queen’s Park on Saturday. In contrast to the feeble play of their opponenets the Rangers played brilliantly, and showed a balance combination and skill that has rarely been excelled. Not a single member of the team failed. Even Drummond whose exhibitions of late have been somewhat unequal played an almost irreproachable game. In a word the defence was faultless and the forwards showed better balance that they have done at any part of the season. Miller played a splendidly to A Smith, and if distinctions were made as to who were the most effective players on the field I should couple McPherson and Smith with a slight preference for the latter, as being the best. Low played his finest game for the winners, and made rings round his opponenets, who were never seen to less advantage. Anderson and D Stewart were the only members of the Q P defence able to stand up to their opponenets, the goalkeeper being the best man on his side. Berry did well forward, but the lot were indifferently supported and as a combination signally failed. McColl’s long absent affected his play seriously and he exchanged places with Christie in the second half, but was no more successful at half-back than he was at forward. The Rangers scored twice in each half, the first from a penalty kick taken by Neil, the second by McPherson from a pass by Smith, the third by Smith and the fourth by Miller. The penalty kick was given against Queen’s Park for D Stewart bringing down Miller with the 12 yards line, when that player seemed likely to score. The referee’s decision was somewhat unkindly criticised, but it was a correct interpretation of the rule. The second goal was simply gifted to the Rangers by the carelessness of Ritchie and Allison. At time feeding ran high among the layers, and the play was a trifle wild. Berry and McPherson were slightly injured in succession by tactics that might well have been avoided and that cannot lightly be condoned.
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