W Reid 42
Match Information
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: J Binnie (Falkirk)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Science was overshadowed by dash in the encounter at Cappielow, where Rangers triumphed by a goal. The teams could not have displayed greater earnestness had there been a kingdom at stake. Morton’s opening play clearly indicated that they meant to preserve their unbeaten home record. During the first twenty minutes they were easily masters of the situation, but could not get the better of Kelso or Craig, who, while not over-particular as to the manner in which they cleared their lines, never faltered. Lock was kept on tenterhooks – nothing more. Seldom was he troubled, although he saw numerous shots flashing over the bar, and outside the posts. Morton’s forwards, clever in the open, were always that little bit off the mark in their finishing efforts, which thrills, but, at the same time, only tantalises supporters. Torrance, Gourlay and Seymour essayed tried, but they could not locate the desired haven. Rangers, who had made a few spasmodic breakaways, slowly but surely collected themselves. Reid was ever on the alert, and displayed a dash that could not but have an inspiring effect on the others. Cleverly supported by Bowie, he time and again made determined efforts to elude the wily Wright, who constantly was by his side. In the course of a melee near the home goal, Ormonde gave his knee a twist, and had to be assisted behind the goal for attention, and while being treated he had the mortification of seeing Bradford beaten. It was a brilliantly taken point, and reminiscent of Reid at the top of his form. Getting the ball about forty yards out, the centre circumvented Wright, and while Ferrier was closing in he drove with great force from about 18 yards range. Bradford got one hand on the ball, but the sting behind the shot rendered him powerless to divert it from between the posts. Ormonde was then helped to the pavilion, and was unable to resume. McLean dropped back, and Gourlay went to left half. Till the interval the ‘Light Blues’ were always pressing, but they found the Morton defence as strong as ever. Hendry gave Bradford some trouble with a point blank shot, but beyond this effort the custodian managed to dispose of everything without undue exertion. The second half saw Rangers monopolising the play in the earlier portion, and at times it looked as if they would ultimately finish with a convincing majority. Morton, with ten men and facing a stiff breeze, although clearly in difficulties, did not allow their determination to relax, not even when Brown rattled the crossbar and when Paterson shot narrowly past at express speed. About fifteen minutes from the finish the Cappielow brigade made a great rally. Banging the ball ahead and following up in dashing style, the forwards seemed to unnerve Kelso and Craig, and Lock was kept uncomfortably employed. In saving a shot from Seymour he fell, leaving R Stevenson with an open goal, and how the inside left managed to send the ball outside the post will remain one of those mysteries of the football field which can never be solved. It was a chance seldom thrust upon anyone, and no wonder he gazed in astonishment when the ball rolled past. Lock had to leave his charge in Craig’s hands for a few minutes, but although Morton maintain a stiff pressure to the finish, they had to retire beaten. It was a game of thrills. Several of the players seemed unable to restrain themselves, with the result that free kicks were being awarded every other minute. This had the effect of rousing the spectators to a high pitch of enthusiasm, and the keenest excitement prevailed till the last kick. How the game might have gone had Ormonde not retired after thirty minutes’ play it is difficult to say, but Rangers found it difficult enough to snatch their victory with a superior force. Morton certainly lost their chances of making victory secure in the opening twenty minutes, when they were all over their opponents, but could not shoot accurately. The Ibrox team problem is far from settled. Reid shows a recovery of form, and Bowie also passed muster, but the others were below class. Hendry was obviously ill at ease on the extreme left, Pursell shadowed Buchanan most successfully; in fact, made the Morton centre look much poorer than he is. Logan easily mastered Torrance, but Brown found Seymour rather difficult to stop. Kelso and Craig took all the ricks, and frequently incurred the displeasure of the home supporters, but they nevertheless formed a stout guard, and Lock was never really seriously troubled. Morton’s attacking party made a plucky but far from elegant show. No attempt was made by the quartette to indulge in combination. Against a less resourceful pair of backs their impetuous rushes might have succeeded, but it was only towards the close that they gave any real bother. Chief credit for the team’s game fight rested considerably with the middle division. Wright, at centre-half although greatly overworked, never slackened down, and with Reid in form the dimensions of his task can be easily imagined. Gourlay, the handy man of Cappielow, was not long in adapting himself to left-half position, while J Stevenson also worked like a Trojan and kept Paterson very much out of the picture. McLean filled Ormonde’s place with honour, and along with Ferrier proved a sturdy obstacle. Bradford’s work was always performed with confidence, and he had no chance of saving the goal. The attendance – about 10,000 – was easily the best of the season at Greenock
