A Cunningham (2, 1 pen)
W Reid
Match Information
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: H Humphrey (Greenock)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
For an hour the game at Ibrox was interesting, if not thrilling. Mostly, it was a rare struggle for supremacy between Aberdeen’s defenders and the Rangers’ forwards, and considering that the Aberdeen’s defence was only pierced – and then from a penalty kick – during that period, you will see that Anderson, Colman and Hume played strongly and well. But Rangers’ persistency and cleverness told in the long run, although Aberdeen may advance the extenuating circumstance that they lost three goals after losing the services of Chatwin, who was injured midway through the second half. After a vain effort to continue on the line, he had to retire for good fifteen minutes from the end. The reappearance of Cunningham was welcome by the crowd – and Scott Duncan. With the Gunner slipping out nice balls – just as a gunner ought – Duncan had a merry time, and his many fine centres brought danger to Anderson, who, however,, was seldom troubled, thanks to Colman’s ‘cuteness and Brewster’s inches – for Brewster was aye ready to head the ball away. Aberdeen’s forwards now and again worked past Logan, Gordon and Hendry, but after that the attacks frizzled out when a little care might easily have brought a goal. Cail was presented with one golden opportunity – close in with no one but Hempsey to beat – but Cail’s shot was wide by two or three yards. Cairns and Paterson brought Rangers down and a centre by Paterson seemed to be going nicely to Reid when Chatwin got in the way and handled within the penalty zone. Cunningham converted. Sound defence and a fair share of good luck enabled Aberdeen to cross over only a goal down. Immediately on resuming, Reid almost scored by harassing Anderson who allowed the ball, passed back by Colman, to slip from his hands, but Brewster arrived in the nick of time to clear. Then the visitors made one of their infrequent excursions towards Hempsey, Archibald doing all the leading-up work and making a rare opening for Wylie who shot straight at the goalkeeper, which was not the correct thing to do when he had plenty of goal space to select. Rangers, who had become strangely lackadaisical, woke up, and in their next raid Chatwin was hurt. It meant the snapping of Aberdeen’s defensive lick. Grant took up the position in front of Colman whose task was now too heavy, and he was beaten on the run by Reid who fired in a powerful shot which was too much for Anderson, the ball rebounding from the base of the far-off past into the net. Anderson saved miraculously a shot from Cunningham which deflected off Colman, but Cunningham with his next effort whizzed the ball into the net, and five minutes later a dazzling run by Paterson and Cairns was finished with a splendidly scored goal by Cairns. Aberdeen were splendidly served by defence. Anderson distinguished himself on at least a dozen occasions, and he had no chance with the balls which beat him – all ground balls as if shot from a gun. Colman was in fine trim, holding Cairns and Paterson tight, and taking a delight in dispossessing Reid at a critical moment, Hume had a hard job but never gave in, even when he was limping rather badly. Until his injury Chatwin was the best half, although Brewster and McLachlan each did well and the trio tried hard to get their forwards on the move. Bur the forwards failed except Archibald, who accomplished many clever things, but all his work went for nought as soon as he parted with the ball – perhaps that was why he held to it longer than he should have done. Rangers’ defenders were never in difficulties, thanks to the dominating power of the halfs. The forwards were clever, with Cunningham and Duncan outstanding. Paterson was not so much in the game, but it seemed to me that Cairns was more intent in perfecting an understanding with Reid. Between them they showed one or two original moves.
