A Cunningham pen 9
Dougall <45, >45
Match Information
Attendance: 16,000
Referee: Tom Dougray (Bellshill)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Falkirk gave their friends a banquet at Ibrox. They won in handsome style, and that under conditions which were all against good football. But good football we saw in abundance, especially during the first half-hour following the interval. That was the Bairns’ happy time. They were dominant then, and because of their wonderfully fine forward play they put the seal upon their well-merited victory. Rangers’ forwards never mastered the conditions as did their opponents. They had bright periods and their final effort to save a point was praiseworthy, but on the whole, they were the inferior team. Yet the Light Blues had the benefit of an encouraging send-off, for Cunningham converted a penalty-kick after seven minutes. Falkirk were not the least disconcerted, and when ten minutes later, Dougal equalised with a nice left-foot shot, they got their due reward. Up to the interval it was a keen, attractive game, with Rangers rather the more dangerous, but met always by a strong unyielding defence. Cunningham on three occasions came near counting with his favourite left-foot, Ferguson once just touching the ball, out of his course as it was sailing into the net. There had been nothing to give warning of the change that was coming after the cross-over. Then Falkirk got a thorough hold. It took them fifteen minutes to get the lead, but the goal was always on the way. Dougal was the scorer again. Standing unmarked, he got the ball nicely to his feet and drove with great force. Goalkeeper Hamilton did well to fall on the ball on the line, but before he could get a proper grip of it and recover, Dougal ran in and netted. A spirited response by Rangers saw Fleming with a chance to equalise, but from point-black range, he shot at Ferguson, who saved. Then more puzzling Falkirk attack, and good saving by Hamilton, who, however, had to admit defeat again after 29 minutes when Cox got a clear run-in to net as he chose. For a time after this Brockville merry men were going great guns, but in the last stages, the Rangers’ forwards came with a gust, and three minutes from the end Cunningham bore through and beat Ferguson from close range. Every Falkirk man had his share in the team’s success. All in the defence were strong. Gowdy was a grand forcing half-back in the second half and Townsley, as usual a power in defence. Dougal and Paterson were the best going wing afield, and Paterson a outstanding individual player. Rangers were patchy and were undoubtedly affected by the conditions. Hamilton was convincing in goal, but the backs were not. An injury to his right leg did not help Manderson. The half-backs, however, were outmatched in that lively half-hour after the interval and that was the vital period. Malone and Cunningham played some really good football, but Andy had no luck with his shooting. Fleming was very closely watched by Townsley to be effective
