J Paterson 40
Ribchester pen
Match Information
Attendance: 32,000
Referee: Tom Dougray (Bellshill)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
It was a good draw at Celtic Park, Albion Rovers were unfortunate not to win, Rangers have themselves to blame for not entering the final. Let me explain what I mean by that. Nobody could complain about a draw, even though Rovers goal came from a penalty kick. Time after Time, the Coatbridge boys were baulked of goals by Lock, who was at times miraculous and times fortunate. Shortt didnt get much to do at all. Rangers never looked like winning, if we take both halves of the game as a whole. Certainly, when Rangers scored against the wind it was blowing and swirling some I fancied they would count several times the breezes behind them. They didnt. and another thing they didnt do was control the ball against the wind half so well as the Cliftonhill boys. They were a revelation in the second half. Before the kick off, Rangers were at fault in playing Gordon at centre. Cunningham is in bed with a chill. Great player as Jimmy undoubtedly is, he is not a cup-tie centre-forward. He hasnt the speed now. He tried hard and never came off. He tried to put on the bit of speed he doesnt possess, and in the process over-reached himself and went lame. After that it was all Rovers. With Gordon limping at outside right and Archibald in the centre, the team was out of joint and appeared to get nervy. So, you see it was a good draw after all. Rangers started off against the wind, and we had an early Cairns behind. Then young Ritchie stopped first Black and then White. A Rovers chance thus early! Black and Ribchester got going. White came across to the right and got possession. Had he left the ball to Black it might have paid better. Ritchie turned a beautiful ball with White in him. The Rovers were not judging the wind well and Rangers pressed for a bit. This only served to bring out the ability of Ball, the left back. The ball got a ducking in the pond, which set me thinking that on such blowy days as yesterday it would not be a bad thing if the new ball were well soaked before played at all. A splendid cross by Young, with the first ball he had got up to now, was fisted clear by Lock. Nippy as he was White didnt get on to a good chance sent across by Ribchester. The Rovers were hitting the ball too hard, and behind, behind, behind, it went. They were pressing hard, but purposeless. Cairns, Paterson and Gordon made off. Penman fouled Gordon just outside the penalty line. Archibald got on the ball, beat two men, and Muirhead had a great shot and Shortt a great save. Young got a corner, and Duncan had a great drive, which Lock did well to put over, and a behind was the result of the second flag-kick. At the other end Bowie had a shot blocked after Paterson and Cairns had done the running. Then Ribchester netted without counting. He forced Walls to give a corner. The ball was carried into the net without anyone touching it, although Dixons head was perilously near. Rangers got their first corner from Archibald. The ball was partially cleared, and Walls should have lobbed it into the centre instead of trying to shoot. This was his first mistake, though. He was playing a great game with about half an hour gone. Another corner to the Ibrox boys only served to let Young off on the wing, Manderson held him. Hereabouts Noble, I think it was, had a great shot, which beat Lock all the way, and just went past. Only a few minutes from time Rangers scored. A nice bit of wing play brought the goal. Paterson and Cairns made the ground, and the Doctor finished with a fine shot, which beat Shortt. A defender got his head to it, but he was well over the line. In any event, the ball went into the net. It was a well taken goal, yet I think it is not too much to say that Rangers were just a bit fortunate to turn one up. Albion Rovers resumed as if they meant business. Rangers defence was stretched. A crowd got into the goal, someone handled, and the referee never hesitated. He pointed to the spot. Ribchester gave Lock no chance with the shot, The equaliser was got inside two minutes and was deserved on play. Prior to the goal, Lock had a fine save from Ribchesters sharp shot, and after it Rangers did some desperate work. Steadiness would have made all the difference. Then Gordon, trying to do too much well in on goal, went lame and went off, resuming later on the wing. Ribchester was going some when he caught a pass from the left and hit it first time. By throwing himself at the ball, Lock saved. What a chance Archibald missed! In perfect position and no one to beat but Shortt, he slipped and fell. Another great save was brought off by Lock throwing himself at Ribchesters feet, and the keeper and Ritchie were damaged for a bit. Rangers were nervy and disjoined. Manderson saved a certain goal on the line, with Lock out. Rangers best after this were a couple of shots by Cairns neither great and a great effort by Muirhead. Shortt failed to hold, but there was no one up, and the keeper had plenty time to clear. About the players No one on the Rangers side played better than Herbert Lock. He was at his beat, and he and plenty to do. When pressed, both backs were shaky. I liked Manderson the better. Walls was the best half-back the best on the field. Bowie played hard, but with his forwards going wrong he didnt come off. Dixon is a great breaker-up, but mire attention to placing would pay better. Only Paterson in the forward line played to form. He was splendid at times. Both inside men were poor. I have mentioned Gordon already, and I thought Archibald played well in the first half, but didnt get enough of the ball. I must congratulate Albion Rovers on their splendid draw. They had out the same eleven that best Aberdeen. After seeing them I do not wonder at it. It was a splendid thing for a young club to do so well in the cup-ties as they have done. Shortt, without have a great deal to do, kept quite a good goal, but had he been more fly he might have saved Patersons shot. Both backs were strong. I thought Bell the best back on the field. All three half-backs were workers, Duncan took my fancy most, both in attack and defence. The other two I would class as fair, because they didnt place too well at times. All five forwards were neat, nippy and swift. Ribchester, White and Young took my eye. I thought the centre played a great game in every way and wont be surprised to hear more of this lad. Black and Watson kept the line going well
