T Cairns 10
F Walker 25
Red Cards
Findlay sent off 89
Match Information
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: JB Stevenson (Motherwell)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
“What do you say to our beating the Rangers?” I smiled. “It’s like this,” remarked Colonel John B Wilson, the chairman of Third Lanark FC, was on the pavilion balcony at Ibrox Park yesterday along with the majority of the third Lanark FC Director. “Our team has not suffered defeat for six weeks. The side has recovered from an indifferent start, and the boys are determined to prevent the Rangers from settling to their customary methodical game. I do not look exactly for a Rangers defeat, but I believe the Third will manage to save the game.” The Colonel was not far off the mark. Up to a minute from time the result hung in the balance, and the sides were level at one goal apiece. In that fateful minutes the Rangers forced a corner kick. James Brownlie, who gave a first-rate exhibition of goalkeeping, did his best to prevent the flag-kick. He sprinted across the goal-line about twelve yards to prevent the corner kick, but the ball was travelling so fast that it beat him by one yard. Alan Morton took the kick. The ball was as perfectly placed as one or two others from the same player. It came right into the goalmouth, and after being played, James Bowie, rushing in at top speed, sent it spinning through a crowd of legs into the goal. Thus, it happened that, when a draw seemed assured, Rangers won in sensational style by two goals to one. The game was a checkmating one all through, and the Third Lanark players fulfilled the mission to the letter. The Ibrox forwards were never allowed to settle to combined action, and at no part of the game were they able to outwit the Cathkin half-backs, among whom were two of their reserve players, Johnstone at right half, and McKenna, at centre half. The bustling, upsetting game of the visiting team chatacterised the whole play, and both goals got by the winning team accrued from corner kicks, the first one having been scored by Cairns after ten minutes’ play, following a corner kick taken by Archibald. The Rangers were not long on the lead, as nine minutes alter Frank Walker, getting the ball from Ferguson, baffled two defenders very cleverly, and placed the ball where it was impossible for Robb to reach it. Up to the closing minute of destiny, when Bowie capped a fine display by winning the match, there was not much between the teams. Both teams, who have been away special training, appeared yesterday to show a trifle more exertion in their play than usual, and the passing was neither so free nor so sustained. This failing was more apparent in the play of the Rangers than was the case with Third Lanark. There was not the same freedom of passing among the Rangers’ half-back and forwards that I have seen in the majority of their home matches. When they converged into goal the inside players were often in each other’s way, and were easily blocked by a defence that showed conspicuous courage and perseverance in the way that they went into their men. The heading of the Third Lanark defenders was a notable feature of their tactics, and even Johnstone came quite out of his shell in spiling Alan Morton, who was the most dangerous forward on the Rangers’ side. Cairns was the next in order of merit and one hard ground shot from him in the first half gave Brownlie the opportunity to bring off what was probably the finest save at Ibrox Park this season. The Rangers got the chance to win the match after twenty-five minutes, when McKenna handled the ball in an attempt to avert a smash on the face with it. Archibald struck the bar from the spot kick, and Brownlie dealt safely with it on the rebound. The Cathkin portion of the 22,000 spectators found consolation in the sequel to the right winger’s endeavour. On the whole, the game was value for a draw, and it was unfortunate in the dying moments of a struggle that seldom raised enthusiasm that young Finlay, the Third Lanark forward, came under the ban of the referee, and was sent to the pavilion. A well-dressed individual leapt the barricade, and attempted to interview the Lanarkshire youth, but he was peremptorily obstructed by a vigilant inspector of police. Bowie, who filled Meiklejohn’s place in the Rangers team, was the cleverest placer of the ball, and Robb, Manderson and Dixon, and the left wing were the pick of the others. The feature of the play of the other side was the unflagging vigilance of the defence, and the open raiding of the forwards. Frank Walker and Finlay were clever on the ball, and the young centre, Ferguson, who had at least one great shot, made quite a pleasing appearance, and was very courageous. Both teams returned to the seaside in the evening. The illness of a child prevented W Orr accompanying his clubmates to Seamill
