Gordon (2)
J Paterson
Match Information
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: J Matthews (Greenock)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
I say frankly that the Rangers had not a difficult task in winning at Ibrox. Their jog, indeed was made easy for them through the weakness of Raith Rovers’ forwards in the hooting zone. With a shot in this section the Rovers, of Kirkcaldy, would have given Rangers a harder run, especially in the second half, for the defence of the ‘Light Blues’ was nothing to go into raptures about. Yet Hempsey had a very easy afternoon, and only once do I recollect him being in any difficulty. Unable to get military leave, Lieut. Logan did not assist Raith, who had to rearrange the entire defence, and when Private Lavery began by miskicking badly the Rovers, who were playing against a stiff breeze and with the sun in their eyes, seemed to be in for a rough journey. And when Gordon from forty yards’ range drove the ball into the corner of the net after only eight minutes’ play, the outlook for the visitors was less cheery than ever. Gordon almost shot a second goal with a surprise left-foot ground shot, and Rangers kept their opponents tightly hemmed in around Brown, who saved well and cleared decisively from Cairns, who a little later got right through the defence only to shoot straight at the goalkeeper. Brown distinguished himself by saving brilliantly from Bennett, and afterwards stopped a penalty kick taken by Gordon, who seemed ‘hurt’ at his failure. He made amends by scoring a second goal. Again he let go a powerful shot; Brown threw himself on the ball, but in an endeavour to elude the oncoming Cairns he pulled himself and the ball over the line. Only occasionally had Raith Rovers called upon Hempsey, but they had set up a rare defence, and I suppose were content to be only two goals down at the interval. Immediately after the restart Bennett nearly scored a third, the ball travelling along the cross-bar, but Paterson, who fastened on relieved Brown anxiety by shooting wide. Now that they had the wind as an ally, Raith Rovers moved with more freedom, and gave Muir and Pursell something to do. As the game progressed the visitors became more eager, but all their aggression came to nought, although at times they had Rangers’ defenders guessing. Turner had a rare attempt, and Inglis tried to emulate Gordon’s long driving, while even Lavery came down field to have a shot. There was good deal of shooting, but it was shooting of a kind - bad brand, indeed! Several times Duncan and Bennett brought Rangers along. Duncan was cutting his own road into goal when Robson stopped his progress, but having done so, Robson gave away a corner needlessly. There was some doubt whether the ball was over the line or not, but the linesman decided that it was, and from Duncan’s flag-kick Paterson scored Rangers’ third goal ten minutes from the end. Rovers put on a strong spurt, and Pursell gave Wilson a grand scoring chance, but this went the way all others had gone – to nothing. Considerable interest was taken in the appearance of Tom Cairns as leader of Rangers’ forward line. Candidly, I was disappointed. Cairns can hustle, is eager for work, and takes a lot of watching. But he does not combine the line, and I fancy he would like the ball oftened to his left foot than his right. Of course, Cairns does not profess to be a centre-forward, and I think the Rangers might have given Lister another opportunity of showing his worth. Duncan and Bennett formed a good wing. They showed a nice understanding which was lacking on the left wing. Dr Paterson appeared to be stiff in the joints, but he has not had much time for training recently. The half-backs had always a grip of the Rovers’ forwards, but Gordon was easily the best of the trio, and Muir was the better back. Raith Rovers had a fine defence in Brown, Lavery and Robson, and in the first half they alone saved their team from disaster. Inglis was the conspicuous man in the middle line. The forwards were seen only in the second half, when Archibald and Turner played well, and Newbigging, the new centre-forward from Hamilton, worked eagerly, but it was apparent he was in strange company – he never seemed to know what his colleague would do
