W Reid <45
W McPherson >45
Match Information
Attendance: 22,000
Referee: J.S. Muir (Crosshill)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
I asked Mr AB swan, the Hearts of Midlothian chairman, at the close of the strenuous struggle at Ibrox Park what he thought of the display of the Hearts. “I was delighted with the bold fight they made of it,” he replied, “and but for the unexpected absence of three of our players, I feel convinced we would have won. Hegarty contracted a cold and could not play; Mercer, who was recently in hospital, took ill in the Rangers’ pavilion; and Whitehead trampled on a stone while training on Thursday, and was too lame to turn out. All three were selected to play today, and you can imagine the feelings of my directors when we arrived in Glasgow thus handicapped for an important match our players were desperately keen to win.” The vacancies were filled by Roderick Walker turning out to take the right back position, McLaren dropped into the corresponding place at half-back, while McPherson, who was wont to partner Alex Smith when he played for the ‘Light Blues’ and made himself famous in the Scottish Cup ties that year the trophy was withheld, was called on to lead the attack alongside another old Ibrox favourite, Tom Murray. The last-named player has improved wonderfully since he joined the Tynecastle team. The Rangers had their full team, Bennett making a welcome reappearance after missing four matches through indisposition. A more fiercely contested game one could not conceive. The Rangers’ officials were unanimous that a better had not been played on Ibrox this season. Fast as the Rangers set the pace the Hearts responded to it, and the crowd thrilled with enjoyment of the glorious spectacle of the crack team of the year, being run so hard for the honours by the next best side in the League, as an Edinburgh gentleman on the pavilion balcony put it. The Hearts throughout the best part of the first half played an opener game than their opponents, and the ball was often slung out to the right by both Nellies and Murray and much ground was this gained. The display of the Tynecastle team was attractive to watch and each side met the other’s raids by scrupulously clean endeavour and with equal fearlessness. I was delighted with the Rangers half-backs, and clever as the forward played with Alex Smith leading the way beautifully and timing his crosses with almost mechanical accuracy, the half-backs, in my opinion, were entitled to most praise. Galt forced the game with Titanic energy, Gordon beat his men by fine craftiness, and Hendry, like Gordon, was often found in the role of an extra forward. It was a bright movement of Hendry’s that decided the game fully ten minutes from time. Getting the ball about midfield, he wended his way through the maze of opposition and slung it finally to Hogg, who was in an open position. The right-winger up to that point had been held in subjection by Nellies and Taylor, but he scored a wonderful goal; and on to the finish the weightiest forward in the field was very much in the picture. I liked Reid’s play, not because the crack shot of a class team scored a sensational goal after being badly fouled in the effort leading to the final movement, but for the fact that he varied his long passing game to the wings better than I have ever witnessed him do. This brilliantly taken goal from 28 yards out took both the Hearts backs completely by surprise for they were at his heels when he stumbled. He recovered so quickly that he had the shot delivered at Allan when they made a move to sandwich him. At half-time the Rangers led by a goal. Referee kept the players in the field at the interval, as the light had all though threatened a premature stoppage. The pace never slacked, and about six minutes after crossing over Murray headed an equalising goal from a corner kick. The ball dropped high into the outstretched hands of Lock, but although he got his fingers to it, the goalkeeper could not hold it. Some folks said it was a soft goal. I don’t entertain that opinion. For the next 15 minutes the game touched its best standard. Both attacking divisions deceived in the outfield by turning quickly on the ball in the direction least expected. The Rangers were the nippiest in their movements, and in the last 20 minutes they looked the team most likely to win. If defeated the Hearts were by no means disgraced. Allan served them nobly. He had great saves from Galt and Gordon in the first half, besides others. Walker was a shade better than Taylor. Both did well, although – like the pair on the other side – they had to come straight through with the ball or be beaten. Nellies was brilliant at left half. Burden was masterful, and McLaren if lacking co-operation, with Walker behind him, was serviceable. McPherson was not such a finisher as Reid. The best of the forwards was Abrams, whose trickiness and skill baffled Law time and again. Walker stayed the pace and passed well; but Murray, while clever with his partner, did not get the ball often enough from the centre. Sinclair was fair, and failed to gather several passes when well placed. The winners had much credit by their victory, and there was more combination among them. There was not a weak spot in the team, for in Hogg’s closing rally one lost sight if his previous non-success. The backs, if not brilliant, were useful defenders, and Lock did all one could expect with his customary sharpness.
