W Reid 15
A Bennett 20
Fairfoull 70
A Smith 75
Match Information
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: J Lyons (Hamilton)
Matchday: Thursday
Match Trivia
By defeating Third Lanark before a crowd of 9,000 spectators at Ibrox Park last night, Rangers won the Scottish League championship for season 1910-11, and for the sixth time since its institution. The competition throughout had been intensely interesting, more particularly in the latter stages, during which Aberdeen have been heroically challenging the Ibrox team. A slight falling off on the part of the northern club gave the Rangers their chance towards the end, and they readily accepted it. In the course of the competition, in which they have still one match to play, the winners have shown fluctuating form. They opened well enough by defeating St Mirren and Raith Rovers, but in the third meeting of the season, they met with an unexpected reverse when Dundee won their first League game on Ibrox Park. That was bad enough, but when that was followed by pronounced victory for Aberdeen a fortnight later, indications did not look too bright. Following that came a brilliant run win over the Hearts at Edinburgh on the Autumn Holiday in the city, and from then until meeting Third Lanark on October 15, during which period they won the Glasgow Cup, they had a succession of victories. Their game with the Cathkin club was drawn and the following week there came the most a astonishing result of the tournament when the Greenock Morton at Ibrox won by 5 goals to 1. The following week on October 29, Celtic were luckily beaten at Parkhead, and from that date until December 3, when the return game with Aberdeen was played and lost, they gained four victories. A week later Falkirk played a drawn game at Ibrox, and a 2-1 reverse at Paisley the next Saturday, when Alex Bennett was seriously injured, concluded the defeats. On December 24 the Rangers centred upon what was their most successful part of the season so far as the League was concerned. They began, and from that time up till now they have not met with a single reverse in the competition, and have drawn only four games. The total number of points to their credit just now is 50, which equals the previous best, in 1907-8, when they finished third in the competition. It is this left for the players to create a record by topping that total, and to accomplish that they will have an opportunity tomorrow at Shawfield against the Clyde. It is of interest to note that during the season the Rangers enlisted the services of two ex-Queen’s Park players who were desirous of joining the professional ranks. These were Andrew Richmond and James Bowie. The value of the latter has been most pronounced, the forward striking a better game after his arrival than they had done previously. Worthy of mention too, is the fact that their centre-forward W Reid, has created a goal-scoring record, his total up to last night being 37 of the 89 goals which the team has scored. Their previous best in that respect was three seasons ago, when the total was 91, and there is still a chance left to equal if not exceed that. The game last night was a fairly interesting one, and the ground club deserved their victory. They were stronger at half-back and forward, and as good as their opponents in the other divisions. Rangers, however, were lucky not to have their first goal disallowed for offside. A bouncing ball came to Orr, the Third Lanark left back, which he mistimed and allowed to go over his head. Hogg sent the ball into goal, and ran close to Brownlie himself. The ball came out, but Hogg didn’t, and when Reid scored, with a fast drive, the outside right was certainly standing in an offside position. The second was taken by Bennett, who got the ball from Brownlie, who while lying on the ground, threw it out. He shot low out of the goalkeeper’s reach, and Mainds who was standing on the goal line missed the ball, which rose awkwardly from the ground as it came to him. Rangers led by these two goals at the interval but when Fairfoul reduced the leeway in the second half with the best goal of the match it looked as if the finish would be closer than the run of the first half play had suggested. Soon after, however, Alex Smith put the finishing touch to a beautiful centre by Hogg, and the championship was settled then. Rangers played an attractive game forward. Bowie was particularly useful in opening out the play, and he gave Hogg many fine passes. The latter and Smith centred well, and both carried the ball nicely up the wing on several occasions. Bennett was very clever, if attempting too much occasionally, and Reid was always dangerous. Third were not nearly so effective in attack, their best work coming from Carmichael and Prentice in the second half. McConnell was very neat, but his lack of physique was a serious handicap when he came to close quarters with bigger opponents. Chalmers broke through several times, but did not finish well, and Rankin kept the ball too long. Fairfoul and Galt shared the half-back honours, with Chapman was noticeable for strong forcing work in the first half, when Rangers had the advantage of a strong wind, which died away in the concluding portion. Ferguson and Mainds were not at their best. Orr and Richmond were the best of the backs, but Armstrong did well in the second hald. Campbell was not so reliable as usual, and gave away several unnecessary free kicks, one of which led up to the Third’s goal. Brownlie had two magnificent saves – one in each half – and Lock cleared confidently when called upon.
