Neish 30
Match Information
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: P Craigmyle (Aberdeen)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Rangers did not fulfil the promise of their start at Kirkcaldy, but once Cairns’ leg strain reasserted itself the side gradually fell into mediocrity and were eventually beaten by a Raith Rovers’ brigade that was more sprightly than skilful. From start to finish Raith were workmanlike. Every man pulled his weight. The rear lines were sound, and if Neish didn’t get I not very close touch with clever wings, he at anyrate was ever ready to shoot, and he did so in good style. Following a free-kick against J Hamilton, Raith put in a spell of intensive pressure, and able goalkeeping by T Hamilton prevented stinging shots from Bell and Cairns counting. In course of a Rangers innings two corners were forced, but there was no loophole in the Raith defence. Freer in action the Kirkcaldy forwards were difficult to stop. Bell was too cute for Hamilton, and his long passes were made good use of by the left wingers. A shot from Ritchie was blocked, and another from Cairns just missed the target. Neish wasn’t the odea leader, yet this young man opened the scoring with a shot from long range in the twenty-eight minutes. The Ibrox defence was weak at the time. Rangers were more powerful at the outset of the second period. Craig had a pile-driver punched over the crossbar, and following Morton’s corner-kick Craig skelped in another volley which the agile Mathieson just pushed out of danger. A Meiklejohn try was blocked, and off went Raith. Dorrans sustained an ankle injury and was assisted to the pavilion but returned limping after four minutes. Rangers continued to do the bulk of the pressure, and after Craig had tested Mathieson, Cunningham put a left-foot screamer past, but there was an apparent lack of power in the Ibrox attack.
