A Cunningham <45
Match Information
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Andrew Allan (Glasgow)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Ever since the days when Johnny May and Jimmy Stark migrated from Rangers to the Morton the rivalry between these teams has been of the keenest description, and yesterday’s memorable – for memorable it was destined to become – tussle was no exception. Although the Light Blues only won by an only goal scored by Cunningham after twenty minutes play, they were the better team. Archibald had finessed until he succeeded in slipping a nice pass to his partner, and Cunningham, with that deadly left foot of his drove in a first timer which struck the underside of the bar and crashed into the net. That was after twenty minutes, but prior to that Gourlay had been feeding McNab to perfection, and the wing players ably responded, with the result that French had one or two tries, however, did not trouble Robb much. Archibald on the one wing and Morton on the other sparkled along their respective wings on occasions, and well was it for Morton that they had such an able goalkeeper as Edwards. Henderson, though not so prominent tried a long shot, while Cairns fired in another, either of which might easily have beaten an ordinary goalkeeper. Dixon had been putting in a power of Work, and not only did he frustrate French on numerous occasions, but he found time to nod a ball down to Cunningham’s feet, and the left winger, without hesitation, drove in with terrific force, only to find Edwards on the alert. The start of the second half found the home men on the run, and McCandless was forced to give away a corner, which, like most corners, was cleared. Muirhead and McNab then had a little misunderstanding prior to the ‘scene’ that took place, but a word from the official did all that was necessary. The play deteriorated somewhat after the game was resumed, following the ‘incident’ of the spectators invading the field, but neither side relaxed their efforts – the Morton to equalise, and the Rangers to keep what they had got. Edwards might be put down as the hero of the match, as the shots he got to save, though not too numerous, required the skill of a master goalkeeper. McIntyre played a strong, clean game, and if Allan was not so successful it was no disparagement to him, as Alan Morton was in fine fettle. The home half-backs came well out of a gruelling game, while the Ibrox intermediates were difficult to circumvent. The weakest part of the forward divisions was the left wing of the Greenock club, where Cook was but indifferently supported by Geekie
The scene which occurred at Cappielow Park began fifteen minutes after the interval. Trouble had been brewing among the players from near the finish of the first half, when Jacky Wright was slightly injured. The trainer attended to him and had left him with a sponge to use for his face. Cunningham and Wrigth then had a little ‘difference’, which finished up with the centre half-back throwing the sponge at the fair-haired Rangers inside right. The incident had not been missed by the spectators, and when Buchanan and Cairns went at the same time to head the ball, and both fell, with the Morton man underneath the Ranger, it was observed that Buchanan seemed to fling out his feet. It was at that junction that some of the crowd on the popular side of the field opposite the stand were seen to engage in slight encounters of fisticuffs. Gradually the spectators began to veer round from both ends of the field towards the centre, where the incident took place. Hundreds of them then leaped over the barricade, and though they surged a few yards on to the field of play, Referee Allan commendably kept the game going, and fortunately play veered at the other side of the ground. Latterly, however, he was forced to call a halt, and the game was stopped for six minutes before the spectators were induced to get back into their places. At his own end of the field, McCandless could be seen in the midst of a number of spectators, but the great little Irishman’s persuasive powers must have been of the right sort, for they gradually dispersed
