Muirhead 25
A Cunningham
Match Information
Attendance: 47,000
Referee: P Craigmyle (Aberdeen)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Until a minute from time the Rangers appeared to have qualified for the Glasgow Cup Final. A throw-in at the pavilion end of the Cathkin Park pitch, a header from Paton to Reid, a few yards’ dash and a shot from the right winger levelled the score and made a replay possible for Third Lanark. A half gale and heavy rain affected the play to an extent that was reflected in the game. The wind spoiled the direction of the pass, and the kicking was erratic on account of the sodden ground and heavy ball. The result, two goals each, was probably a fair reflex of a struggle that did not answer to expectation, because of the unexpected conditions following almost perfect weather. The struggle was a severe test of stamina, and the Rangers were a shade the stronger side at half-back and forward. One his to make liberal allowance for Third Lanark’s partial falling off in the second half, because they were set the more severe task by having to face the stormy elements in the first half. Most of the players were leg weary when the need was greatest. Brownlie was beaten by a free kick after twenty-three minutes – taken by Muirhead. The ball rose high from the boot of the half-back. “I made up my mind on the instant to do a certain thing,” said the big goalkeeper to me at the finish. “The wind and the flight of the ball upset my calculations. That is all I can say. People who thought it was a perfectly saveable shot should have been where I was, and they might have had a different opinion.” “Jamie is perfectly right,” chimed in Joe Dodds, the Celtic back. “I saw him beaten when the ball was in the air.” Thirteen minutes from half-time Cunningham got the ball in an open position well out and shot from long range. And that is the story of how the Rangers led at half-time by two goals to nothing. In the second half, the game was not so exciting, but the Rangers appeared able to hold to what advantage they had gained by tremendous effort against a side which, if less methodical, stuck it well. About twenty minutes from Time Tom McInally, following a free kick well placed by Orr, turned a difficult ball past Robb, with two men hanging on to him. This was McInally’s first game for his new club, and the goal was characteristic of the ex-Celt, so stubbornly did he block and twist the ball in the goalmouth. To appearance the ground men were a beaten side, when Reid brought joy to the home crowd in the manner I have described. There was a great deal of truth in what Mr W Maley and Patsy Gallagher said. “It was a game that disappointed, because of the high expectations formed beforehand.” George Henderson led the Rangers forwards. The Forfar man gave a bright key to the opening by a single-handed dash that almost brought a goal. Over the game he worked tremendously hard and shared with Orr the distinction of having the best drive for goal in the second half. Cairns and Cunningham were the life of the Ibrox attack, and their tactical display in the second half, when they lay well behind the leaders, was an object to Paton and Frank Walker. Archibald was probably the best winger of four men who did their utmost to prevail against keen half-backs. Alan Morton was not so conspicuous as usual against a side he has always been a terror to. There was more in the finishing efforts of Hillhouse than one saw from Reid, whose surprise equalising goal disarmed adverse criticism. The Rangers enjoyed a big pull at half-back, for only McKenna on the opposing side approached their standard. The Third Lanark man never played a better game for his club. Wilson lacks experience, and he tapered off in the second half. James Walker was probe to ‘fouling’ in a game where free kicks were numerous, and not always given to the side that merited them. The forwards rarely struck the true game of passing low and accurately. Charles McCormack and Bobby Orr were stout-hearted backs, and they proved a rock of a defence that was not wholly convincing. The Rangers’ pair Manderson and McCandless, were not so happy as usual. Manderson kicked the better ball, but McCandless was the surer, although he found touch more frequently. The goalkeepers were rarely at fault, but Robb was not caught napping, as Brownlie was when the first goal went on against him. There were over 37,000 spectators, many of whom had left the ground in the belief that the Rangers had won. They missed seeing the best goal of the match
