McCandless pen 75
Match Information
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: P Craigmyle (Aberdeen)
Matchday: Wednesday
Match Trivia
A big proportion of the 30,000 people at Parkhead, yesterday, left the Celtic ground convinced that although Rangers were Glasgow Cup-holders they did not really win. The point in dispute was of course, the penalty-kick which gave the ‘Light Blues’ the verdict. Some said it was no penalty – that the ball struck Cowan, who had no intention of hitting it with a hand. Others were just as strong in asserting that if Peter Craigmyle allowed a previous flagrant handle by McCandless to slip, he should have ignored Cowan’s infringement. Which arguments, in my opinion, are both very wrong. From where I was located – in the Pavilion enclosure – I had a good view and let me say with no uncertain voice that in my opinion both were penalty-kicks. But, unfortunately for the Clyde, and fortunately for the Rangers, Mr Craigmyle had not such a clear sight of the first one as of the second. In the circumstances je did just what he should have done. I need hardly tell you that it is out with the province of a referee to make good an omission by making another. Two blacks never made a white. That’s the position. It was quite a good game; it was interesting all the time, and had the sides finished as they started the result would have pleases most folks. There was really nothing between the teams, but the Clyde are due the greatest credit. Why? They suffered under a handicap, while the ‘Light Blues’ were better off for players than on Saturday. Harry Rae and Frank Thompson were off. Tommy Muirhead was in his place, and that meant something for Ibrox. Tommy, as sharp as a needle, struck his true game right away – he seemed the better for his rest. To me he always gave the impression that he was a yard faster than his harder wrought colleagues – the fellows who have been engaged in too big a spate of matches recently. Andrew Cunningham also was early on the dot. His passes to Archibald were accurate and well-times, and ‘Archie’ responded ‘good-oh.’ ‘The Fifer’ throughout was a regular flying Scotsman. Right off the real he got the measure of the none too fit Farrell and made the most of it – almost. When I say almost, I mean that some of his crosses were too far behind; that others were put past that shouldn’t have been, but over the piece, he was one of the two outstanding platers afield. The other was McCandless. All the time, and particularly for a period of five minutes round about the first quarter of the first half, ‘Bucksy’ simply saved the Rangers’ bacon. He came to the rescue half-a dozen times hereabout when all seemed lost. Robb too, saved a smart thing from McClure, although the next moment he was at fault. But nothing doing. Brown looked like going through, but someone came in the way; then Johnstone was ‘cleeked’ when in the act of shooting. Next minute he threw away a glorious chance. It was all Clyde hereabout, save for a runaway by Archibald; then McClure let Brown in, but the ex-airman was short. McClure got a rather bad one from Muirhead – he had a knee knocked – after which we had rather a quiet spell. We were just midway through the second half now. Low Robbed the ball on to the top of Robb’s net, and four minutes later – or 28 minutes after the restart – Morton crossed. Cown’s right hand caught the ball. Peter Craigmyle signalled a penalty and McCandless came down to drive it home and win the cup. Between this and the finish both sides had chances, but more of these came the way of the Shawfield fellows. Yes, a cool head hereabout, and we might have had the draw the match was value for. Anderson, the Clyde goalkeeper, came well out of the ordeal. He brought off some truly great saves, chiefly from Archibald shots, but at times he must have made the hearts of the Clyde faithful gather in a lump in their throats. On those occasions he was not decisive, and he dropped the ball too often. Cowan was the better back, Forrest and Frame wrought hard in the middle, but after he got warmed to his work. Goldie from Kilmarnock was the number one man if the trio. This old Bury centre half-back kept the ball on the floor; he kept McClure and Johnstone going nicely. Strange this! One reason Goldie is not in the Rugby Park team today is that he was too fond of air football. Young McClure did splendidly; so too did Johnstone; Brown flattered to deceive too often. This nippy little centre often got into position but could not keep the ball under control at the critical moment, and what chances he had towards the close! Charley Duncan was a useful inside, but Low of Ayr United, did little of consequence. I have told you the Rangers’ stars. Let me add that Robb was safe, that Manderson cleared his lines in good style, and that in the first half Dixon was a power. Muirhead strengthened the left defence and tried to do the same for the attack on that side of the field. But Tommy could not get Cairns and Morton going as we know they can go. It was a so-so Ibrox left wing. Henderson made himself very busy, but lacked the repose so necessary in a tie played as this one was. Yes, the Rangers were lucky to win
