Logan 17
H Graham 43
A Smith 68, 75
Match Information
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: W.D. Caldwell (Hamilton)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
A regular surprise packet was the match at Ibrox Park – a rousing wind-up to the League interests of Rangers and Hearts. It knocked into a cocked hat the most amazing of those thrilling transformations scenes that used to delight the boyish heart at the annual pantomime. For if I am correct in my interpretation of the game, the Hearts should not have lost it. They might in fact, easily have got away with the two points, just as they did last season. In the first half, which ended all even at 1-1, Rangers, with the wind – which did not seem to matter much – were the oftener seen in attack, yet the smart two-wing game played by the Hearts’ forwards gave them that touch of menace that easily counterbalanced the heavier style of the home forwards. But in the first twenty minutes of the second half the Hearts were absolutely superior to Rangers. For quite a long time the home forward were never even into their stride. Hearts took the lead, as they deserved to do, and were looking very like winners when the transformation and the thrills arrived in bundles, plus two Rangers goals that took the crowd by storm. For both of these goals were scored by Alex Smith, and both were so cleverly taken that the crowd kept cheering after the ball had been rolled to the centre and kicked off. Thus in turn Rangers and Hearts had held the lead, and now Rangers had it again, so they took good care this time not to lose it. But on the run of the play the Hearts were unlucky to have lost the two goals, though it was the loss of them that gave the match its dramatic touch, and made the crowd sorry when it was all over. Curiously, for so excellent a game it gave very poor promise at the start, for the Hearts defence were slow to pull themselves together. Neither Crossan nor Taylor was getting the ball away well, and Mercer was getting it so far up on his laces that it went sky-scraping, sometimes close on the Hearts’ goal. Still, the Rangers forwards, who were pretty persistent, were stopped one way or another, and so long as they did not score there was always the chance of the clever left-wing play of Graham and Wilson bringing out a leading goal for the Hearts. There had not been a first-class shot in the match when, after seventeen minutes, Bowie put Paterson into action. In trying to stop him Mercer gave a corner, and Paterson placed this well enough for Logan to be able to head the first goal. Hard on top of this Wilson had too good chances, made by himself and Graham, but their shooting was not a whit better than that on the other side. Still, it was fitting that the two of them should engineer the equaliser after all. Wilson brought out a corner with a clever run that nonplussed the Rangers defence. He placed nicely, and though Lock punched out Wattie’s header, Graham was able to shoot in again out of Lock’s reach. Before the interval Rangers were at their old game of clever outfield play and stingless shooting, although Hallwood had to punch away several times, and I cannot say he impressed me by the way he did it. We had all the fun of the fair in the second half. Hearts gradually took such a grip of the opposition that there soon appeared to be only one team in it. Had Graham been a marksman he would have got the lead for his side early. He had several glorious chances, and once missed by scarcely anything, while Sinclair also should have done better from a few yards’ range. However, the fast clever play of the Hearts’ forwards strongly supported by the half-backs, was bound to tell. After sixteen minutes Sinclair easily rounded Muir, and running close in, passed squarely into the centre. The ball went well to Wattie, and he shot past Lock, who had no chance at all. Before Rangers could pull themselves together Wilson, who was giving Gordon a lively afternoon, had almost put Hearts further ahead. But then Rangers though it time to waken up. You could see them straining every nerve to break down the now confident, steady Hearts defence. For a time the more they tried the worse their plight became, for the Hearts halves kept breaking up the combination, and both Crossan and Taylor would not make a mistake. But then Crossan did make a mistake. It cost a goal. In trying to stop Bennett and Smith he missed the ball. Smith took it, and running clear ahead, well in towards the centre, he finished with a shot that carried the ball swiftly and swervingly past the guard of Hallwood. Then cheers, and excitement as the Hearts went out for the lead again, and in such a confident, sprightly manner that they seemed quite fit to get it. The pace they set themselves was hard to sustain, however, and the Rangers forwards being the fresher lot, soon began to force things. Reid, who had been taking an occasional gruelling, was going through when he was brought down, and later he did go through and hit the bar such a smack as made the crowd cheer and laugh. Still, the Hearts seemed able to hold their ground until Crossan, when on the point of clearing, was charged into by Reid, which caused him to put the ball across, instead of down the field. Bowie dribbled towards the line with it, and drew the defence so well that when he centred Smith was practically unmarked, and the winger shot his second, and the team’s winning goal. Hallwood touched the ball, but failed to hold it. That was the transformation – first the Hearts sailing swiftly and easily for victory, and now faced with certain defeat; for by this time Rangers were playing with added fire, although never able to master the defence. To Smith because of the masterly way in which he took his two goals against the run of the game, I would give the major credit for the win. I question if at any time in his career he has done anything more opportunely. In both cases, the skill, the cool head, and the steady nerve were essential. Well may Rangers value their veteran, who next August will begin his twenty-first season with them. The other best forward on the field, if I may so put it, was lightfoot Wilson, the Hearts outside left. Gordon will not forget him, and likewise, Brown will remember Graham. As a wing, nothing on the field equalled the Hearts left. I liked the lively play of the Hearts forwards better than that of the Home line, but there can be no denying that a disadvantage in height told vastly against the Light Blues; inside men. Hearts were superior at half, though there must have been something wrong when Mercer had to so often come over to the right, or even get behind his backs at times. Hendry was the best of the home halves. All the backs had their work cut out. I was sorry for Crossan, because previous to his miskicking to let in Smith, he had been doing particulary well. Muir’s slowness was apparent at time, and I thought that Gordon got too far away from his goal on occasion. As a half-back he could safely run down, but it is for a back to stand by his goalkeeper
