Stewart 30, >45, 88
Match Information
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: A Edward (Glasgow)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
I saw nothing at Boghead to lead me to believe that the Ibrox directors are any nearer the solution of their eternal back problem. Young Scott, of Forfar, is a smart enough player, but so far is not a First League back. How long it may take him to become one I do not know, for, clever little kicking though he is, he is lacking in two essentials – he has neither the height nor the power required for the position. It was a bad day for the debutant – in place the ground was a veritable quagmire – still, I saw sufficient to convince me that the right man ready – made for the left back position had not yet arrived at Ibrox. In appearance Scott is not unlike Peter McFie. He wears the same rufus locks and the same less avoirdupois. Rangers had another last-line defender on trial. You may recollect when JL Logan cast ‘Brummagem’ dust from his shoes, the story got abroad that he was the full back they had been sighing for years. To realise these expectations the Barrhead son of Anak must improve fifty per cent. on Saturday’s showing. In the second half he kicked right lustily quite a lot of good balls, otherwise he was pretty much a fish out of water. As often as not, when he did rob the lighter and comparatively inexperienced Brown and Thom, it was by mowing them down. That is not tackling as I understand it. Forceful defence may be allowed to pass muster on occasion. I admit that desperate diseases demand desperate remedies, but the battering ram invariably – no, if you please. Scotland’s most popular professional club is entitled to something more classic. In a way the Rangers did uncommonly well. This morning they are two points nearer the Celtic total. Bur as a trial the Boghead match leaves them as they were. They are still minus backs worthy of the club. Nor did they find a successor to Willie Reid. I say this not that you or I dreamt they were looking for one, but in case you might run away with the idea they had made a discovery because Stewart, like Ireland won the Triple Crown. Seldom did a man comport himself less like the approved type of centre-forward, never have I seen a player perform the ‘hat-trick’ easier. The first goal, which came along when the game was 29 minutes old, was very clever taken – Paterson’s cross was slipped quietly through just inside Frew’s right-hand upright – the others were presented the Ibrox stop-gap pivot. I am inclined to blame Frew for the second, Thomson for the third. The goalkeeper should have got his digits to that simple-looking scoring ball, even if it was slightly deflected by one of his own players. He was right on it. Thomson simplified matters for the Newcastle man next time. He obligingly missed his kick and left Frew at Stewart mercy. The phlegmatic Englishman took his ‘ain braw time’. After getting clear he simply stood on the ball ere chipping it into the net. This success happened two minutes before the final whistle, the other was sandwiched between half-an-hour earlier. I heard much grumbling among the ‘Dumbartonians’ many of whom averred the first and second goals should have been chalked off for offside. I am with Mr Edward in both decisions. It might have paid the Boghead players better to have stuck into their work instead of persisting with their claims. From the foregoing you will have gathered that the Rangers although the better and more confident team, were not value to win by such a wide margin. The backs were lucky, the Dumbarton forwards feeble in a finishing sense, and Lock was the old Harry at his best. His cleverest work was done between the scoring of the second and third goals, for twenty minutes of which time the locals gave the Rangers ‘what for’. Twice Lock came out and saved the situation. On such a ground first-class forward play was not to be looked for, still there was quite a lot of real good work on tap. I have not seen Bowie do so well for a long time. His leading out work was grand, his slashing the ball across to the left wing please me much. This move often had the Dumbarton defenders guessing. Curiously enough, the number one Boghead forward occupied the same position. Harry Gildea threw his weight about a bit, he did more. He brought the ball along nicely himself, he made a lot of openings for Rowan and Ferguson. Unfortunately, the extreme right-winger, whose hesitancy was his besetting sin, did not respond as he ought. He missed a glorious chance, as also did Rowan, who otherwise was a much better centre-forward than I have previously given him credit for. Now and then his passing to either wing could scarcely have been bettered. Brown and Thom, although overweighed by Logan, showed many super-clever touches, but neither got the ball across quickly enough. Both could take a lesson from Alex Smith in this respect. The veteran Ranger, if a trifle heavier and maybe a couple of yards slower than he was twelve months ago, showed much of his old-time cleverness on the ball, and once gave Frew a teaser of a shot to hold. Often we were given glimpses of the old Bennett, as we watched Alex cavort along for, say a dozen yards, ere slipping the ball up the centre as it should be slipped. Paterson once or twice preferred to beat his man when he should have centred, but on the whole, little fault could be found with his exhibition of delightful footwork. Stewart, braver than usual, simply played his usual somewhat diffident inside game in the centre of a terribly ‘glaury’ Boghead. He made no attempt to emulate Willie Reid’s both from the blue. He never once raised a gallop, he delivered no rocket shots – none of his three scoring ball damaged the back of the net. He sent along a lot of brainy passes, and some that were not. The Englishman’s luck was in. Among the half-backs I was most impressed by R Brown and Finlay Speedie. The Kilwinning boy, more aggressive than usual perhaps, was as sharp as needle. Speedie, whose vitality was almost amazing, wrought without ceasing. Galt did his best work when the ball was near the roof. Like Hendry, he was useful rather than brilliant. Peter McFie was scarcely so often on the ball as I have seen him – I blame the heavy footing for his slight falling away. Riddell was run to death almost by the past masters in opposition – Stewart, Bennett and Smith. He struck to his work manfully, and if he did not satisfy his critics it was not for lack of trying. The oftener I see McAlpine the better I like him
