A Bennett 5
Hamilton 43
Match Information
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: J.B. Stark (Airdrie)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
When this thrilling game at Ibrox was fast drawing to a close many on the home crowd had made up their minds for the first reverse of the season – reverse it would have been regarded only to draw where a win had been so fondly anticipated. With but five minutes to go, however, there occurred an incident, which besides leading to much acrimonious discussion, also led to the winning goal for the Ibrox club. Their general play had deserved the success but their methods of achieving it was not what they themselves probably would have desired. Lyall fielded a shot low down at the corner of the post. When beset by opponents he pushed the ball along the ground and the referee granted a free kick – presumably for carrying. That was the sore point. In that actual scoring there was absolutely nothing to cavil at. It was not expected that the Dens Park team, deprived as it was through injuries, of the services of McFarlane and Lawson, would put up such a great fight. But, true to the tradition of past displays on the same ground they made the Rangers travel every inch of the ground for the narrowest possible victory they achieved. McFarlane was missed – of that there is not the shadow of doubt – but it is questionable if Lawson could have improved on the play of the young Perth back, Ferguson, who, making his first appearance in League football, stood up to a couple of tacticians like Bennett and Smith with surprising boldness, and had them as often beaten as they beat him. It must not be forgotten, however, that Rangers were without Bowie, and what that meant probably Hogg and Reid if they cared, could best tell. Goodwin, the slightly-built Ayr youth, did fairly well. He never shirked, and at times he was clever, but Bowie’s absence was felt. Having referred to these changes, and their probable – it can only be a surmise of course – effect on the play of each team, let us get back to the game, which, from its very opening moments, sent the current of excitement through the crowd. In a couple of minutes from Reid’s initial kick – one of the few effective ones he got during the game – Hogg had dashed off on the touch-line. He rounded Lindsay, and cutting into goal shot hard at Lyall, who had come out. It was a splendid save, but the ball rebounded to the outside-right, who quickly got it across the goal. Bennett caught the pass and in a twinkling had the ball travelling to the back of the net about a yard from the ground. That early goal might have unnerved, many teams; but not Dundee. Buckling into their work, they did their share of attacking, and more than once Lock was called upon to save. Once Bellamy cut into the centre, and with a left foot drive found the crossbar, and no other occasions they came near getting the equaliser. Lyall, too was far from being out of the action, and at such a standard of accuracy was the marksmanship that the goalkeeping was a feature. It was close upon the interval, however, ere Hamilton got the desired goal. Lying in that position from which he was wont, when wearing the Ibrox colours to tantalise opposing backs, he waited his opportunity, and three minutes from the interval, getting on the move as the ball was passed forward, he dashed past Richmond and beat Lock with a right-foot shot. There had been 30 minutes of gruelling work to begin with; then came a lull just before the interval, from which the spectators were aroused by the equalising goal. The second half was scarcely so interesting. The Dundee team after a time seemed content to act on the defensive, leaving the foraging work – and it was always dangerous – to be done by Bellamy, Hamilton and Fraser. But it was the Rangers who were the aggressors for the most part. One man stood out above all others on the field for the day. That was the sturdy Englishman, Bert Neal, Called upon to fill the place of a fellow-countryman now at Bradford – Herbert Dainty – he did so with all the success of that ubiquitous player. Untiring, ever on the move, he reduced Reid to positive ineffectiveness. There was a time when James Galt vied with him for the honour, but the subtlety which Hamilton possesses made him more difficult to watch than Reid. The half-back play generally, was of a high standard, and it is a creditable reflection on both sets of forwards that, against that they would do so well. No more need to be said regarding Ferguson. Dundee’s young back. He was splendidly partnered by Lindsay, who never faltered in meeting with an opponent, and took the ball first time. Campbell was as good as any, and Richmond played not a bad game. With two young forwards in the inside positions Dundee’s attack was not quite so piercing as it might otherwise have been. But in young McLachlan the Dens Park people seem to have got a great forward in the making. Claiming Kirkcudbright as his place of nativity, this finely-built youth, who was discovered at the other end of Scotland, in Elgin’s Cathedral city, had many nice touches in the first half, and when according to instructions, he fell back in the second half, he put in a power of useful work. Graydon was scarcely so clever. Fraser time and again carried the play from midfield into the Rangers goal, while Bellamy had also many clever runs. Hamilton played the game which is his own to perfection. Hogg was the Rangers’ best forward, although there as much in the play of Bennett to be admired. Smith, although coming strongly into evidence towards the close, has done better. Reid and Goodwin have already been dealt with.
