Hogg <45
Match Information
Attendance: 57,000
Referee: T Dougray (Nitshill)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
I have followed the career of Partick Thistle since the early Jordanvale Park days and cannot recall an important match in which the club figured to parallel the dashing display given by the team in the latest final for the Glasgow Cup at Celtic Park, when about 58,000 spectators were present. As a game it equalled any final in ten years, and the remarkably strong display of the losers was the more meritorious, inasmuch as they were without three of their regular players – Campbell, McGregor and King. The absence of the goalkeeper was counterbalanced by the presence of McTurk, the Clyde, custodian, who also defended the breach in the ties won by the Thistle against the Celts and Partick Thistle. Hamilton was a fair substitute for the left half, but well as the forwards played, the loss of King, proved a decided handicap, and as events turned out, his absence might have made all the difference between victory and defeat, in that thrilling first half when the Thistle forwards played on to their opponents with refreshing keenness and shot freely from long range. King has proved the shot of the team this season, and it was rough on the club that in its greatest engagement he was compelled to stand down. As in the other ties, the Thistle were unfortunate to have a man injured, and it was while McKenzie was off the field having the muscles of the left leg bandaged by the club’s doctor that the Rangers got the goal which enabled them to retain the trophy they won so worthily last season. This occurred when the game was thirty-five minutes gone. Raisbeck drew Allan from centre forward to full back at the time. A bight movement on the Rangers right was brilliantly carried out by Hogg. Getting the ball on the line, he beat his man beautifully, working his way into the centre of the field. The ball was his all the time. At the crucial moment, when many of the spectators imagined Hogg would pass the ball to Reid – to clinch the movement – Hogg sent the ball home with terrific force from about 16 yards range. No goalkeeper could have stopped the flight of the ball. A more spectacular goal could hardly be conceived. Herbert Lock was more tested in the first half than in any game I have seen him this season. The Ibrox goalkeeper was rarely in difficulties, and he judged well the shots that came him. After the opening ten minutes the backs steadied to their work; and if the half-backs took longer than usual to get a decided grip of the game, owing to the ceaseless ruching attacks of their opponents, they fairly came out of their shell in the second half, when the Rangers counter-balanced the impressions of Partick’s slight superiority in the first half with an exhibition of reserve power and closing strength that justified their victory. At times there were some delightful open movements. In the first half the Thistle spread their play better, whereas the Rangers’ attack were chiefly directed from the left, where Hendry, Bennett and smith in co-operation made splendid headway. I have seen many local finals where prominent players failed to come off, but in this game every man seemed determined to do his best, and left nothing undone to help on his team. This whole-hearted enthusiasm and perseverance contributed to the excellence of the game that left more pleasing recollections than otherwise, and pleased the great crowd assembled to witness it. If the Thistle deserved, and ought with a little luck, to have scored in the first half, and came fairly near to equalising off Thomson towards the end, it can also be said that Bennett and Reid missed scoring from the two great open chances of the second half. The losers gained adherents by their bright display, and the winners endeared themselves among their following by their masterful work in the second half. Two Ibrox defenders, apart from the vigilant Lock, baffled the persistent Firhill men in their best intentions. Campbell, never once beaten throughout the second half, and rarely in the first, cleared opportunely with the head when the ball came into goal, and further out the stall-ward Galt caught up in similar fashion many crosses from the wings. The half-backs were tested more than any other sections, and each trio emerged with conspicuous credit. Raisbeck was a Goliath among his fellow, and without appearing to specially shadow Reid, he had he Rangers’ centre well in hand all through. Without relaxing vigilance on the other inside forwards. The Thistle captain was the success over the game, and in the last half-hour none bettered Galt. Gordon and Hendry were alike skilful in attack and defence, and against a strong wing Hamilton stood manfully up to Hogg, who was cleverly supported by Goodwin. The right wing of the Rangers’ attack was not played to so often as the left, but it was the more dangerous. Wilson was responsible for keeping the Thistle right wingers going his passes were perfect. McKenzie gave another example of his courage by toeing the scratch in the second half. Up to the time of his accident he was as good as any back on the field, Bulloch and Richmond defended well at close quarters, and in the open Richmond excelled. McTurk kept a good goal. We shall probably, hear less adverse criticism of Steel’s abilities in the future. The Firhill right winger was distinctly clever on the ball, and he got able support from Elmore. Thomson is an acquisition to the team, and the one fault of centring the ball behind his own forwards is easy to remedy. Allan and Gardiner worked well in a good line, and the latter is back to his old shooting form
