J Bowie 50
Match Information
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Tom Dougray (Bellshill)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Had Airdrie been able to carry on after the interval as they started and finished the first half at Broomfield, I fancy it would have been a bad job for the Rangers. Up till the breather there is not the slightest doubt that the Light Blues were only second best until the goal came which gave the points they did not shape like winners. And no one looked for their success when it did arrive. The goal was of the snap variety, although smartly and cleverly taken. Gordon shoved the ball forward to Bowie, and the inside-right let go instanter. The watchful Fotheringham saw it coming but was helpless. It was beating him the moment it left Bowies toe until if flashed home just inside his right hand upright. It was going away from him all the road. We were a good five minutes into the second half then, and afterwards everything became comparatively easy for the Glasgow men. They picked up a kind of combination that simply wouldnt come to them earlier on, and but for the sound defensive work of Fotheringham, McDonald and Watson further disaster must have befallen Airdrie. As an attacking force they mattered little now, and the better conditioned Light Blues won deservedly. In the early stages, I was not enamoured of the play of the Ranger. They opened brightly with a masterly Cunningham pass to Reid which Willie pushed through sweetly for the rushing Archibald to send goalwards. McDonald got in Fotheringhams way and the back came within an ace of doing for the Rangers what they could not do for themselves. Fotheringham saved a fine shot from Muirhead, and an express drive from Archibald shattered against an upright low down, but the bulk of the pressing and the nearer thing were taking place at the top end. Lock distinguished himself by clearing a teaser of a free-kick from Hunter art Hart, and Manderson pulled up Reid with a jerk, when Jamie looked like going through. Other equally good chances were thrown away by the Broomfield forwards themselves that is why we had a goalless first half. As I have told you already, Airdrie flickered out with Bowies goal. True, they made a stubborn stand in a defensive connection, and James Reid and Weir both refused golden opportunities of equalising near the close, but the Rangers had the pull undoubtedly. Fotheringham dealt smartly with raspers from Reid, Bowie and Archibald, even if he did give away a few corners, and the Ibrox centre just failed to clinch a beautiful bit of work by Muirhead. Willie dashed through once the old sweet way to shave the top of the bar, another ball he sent sky-high, and but whats the use of dwelling further on the play? Lets to the players. It was far too warm and the ground much too fiery to expect a plethora of first-class football; still some of the boys did very well indeed. Lock was the same old Happy save as a house, Ritchie improved as the game went on, but the back division was not convincing, and Gordon, Dixon and Walls will all passing muster, did not quite touch their own standard. Forward, I liked beat Cunningham and Muirhead, and after the interval, Archibald. Big Andrews judgment was fine, and Muirhead, although out of his position, showed much cleverness. In the second half Archibald took a lot of stopping. The Fifer seemed to get more powerful every day. Airdrie will required to get the spikes on. They were leg weary in the second half. Fotheringham will do in goal, and the backs were all right; as a matter of fact, McDonald was easily the best defender afield. Summers was the most successful half-back, and Rankin, Gray and Miller the cleverest forwards. Reid was not the Jamie of old. Never before have I seen him gather the ball so indifferently.
