Borland 10
A Morton 41
Gibson
T Cairns 89
Match Information
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: P Craigmyle (Aberdeen)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Thrills in the game at Douglas Park were reserved for the last few minutes, for there were spells of play which invoked little or no enthusiasm. But these last few minutes made up for a lot of disappointments, although I have no doubt the Hamilton people felt a little chagrined at losing the lead which they had gained with only six minutes to go. Taking the game all over, it was just value for a draw. At one period of the second half, when Rangers retained the lead, they had gained in the first half, it looked as of they would ultimately win. The Academicals showed no push forward and were seldom up to catch any stray balls that were sent forward by the men behind them. But, once they got the equaliser, they changed their tactics altogether, and went out for victory. That they just missed, but as in have already written, the play was fairly represented by the score. The playing pitch, before the game, looked remarkably well, but the effects of the recent heavy rains were in evidence later on, when players frequently lost their footing. Still, withal it was not too bad, and in most instances made ball control easy. What was more troublesome was the wind, which blew diagonally across the field. On occasion there was some pretty footwork from both sides, but consistently good play was not seen, there being as many dull patches as bright. Rangers were better served at half-back than their opponents, who at the last minute had to do without Hunt, who complained of a leg injury. On the other hand, the Rangers had cripples as well, Hamilton and Henderson both having been in the wars. Right at the start Mr Craigmyle got an opportunity to exercise his powers a free kick being given against Williamson for playing the ball twice. Gray was forced to kick out with Borland on top, and a second after Fleming whizzed one past with Sommerville out of reach. The wind was troublesome, even to Rangers, who had it behind them, the ball often beating them. Clever play by Cairns let Morton in, but the outside left, with his right foot shot wildly over. Williamson and Miller got in the way of each other when the Academicals attacked, and they looked at each other wondering who was to blame. Rangers were doing most of the attacking, but with almost ten minutes gone they had not been very dangerous. At that time Malone forced a corner and another followed when Craig tried to drive the ball. On neither occasion did the ball reach the centre and was easily cleared. First goal. Then with eleven minutes clocked we got the opening score. Miller let Moffat away nicely, and the outside right beat McCandless for speed. He centred a lovely ball, and in a scrimmage during which Robb handled the ball Borland chipped in to tip the ball over the line. Rangers attacked from the centre kick, and Cunningham shot closely past. He followed that up by stretching Sommerville, who gripped a ball at the post. It was a good save. Robb got a nasty jar in saving a drooping shot from Moffat, for Borland came right in top of him while he had the ball in his hand. The goalkeeper soon came all right, and the services of Trainer Livingstone, who had run on, were not required. A claim for a penalty against one of the Academicals backs for handling caused the referee to consult a linesman, who was in good position. The flag man decided for no spot kick. A clever bit of work by the Hamilton forwards, in which all, with the exception of Gibson, took a part left Borland with a chance, but he shot against the side of the net. Hard lines! Then came a short period during which Rangers had hard luck. Twice Somerville had to save from Craig, conceding a corner on one of the occasions, and a terrific Cunningham drive went narrowly past. Robb had to clear from Borland at the other end, and with half-an-hour gone the game had been fairly even. One minute after the half-hour the scores were equalised. Cunningham sent out a beautiful ball to Morton, who with his right foot completely beat Somerville, who had practically no chance of saving. Four minutes later the Light Blues took the lead. Gray drove in a long shot which Fleming just touched with his head, and the ball landed in the corner of the net away from the goalkeeper. A raid by Hamilton caused Robb to clear from Borland, and immediately after at the other end, Morton went through to shoot over. Hardes of hard! With a couple of minutes of the first half to go Hamilton had hard luck in not getting the equaliser. Williamson striking a post with a shot which had Robb completely beaten. When the game was resumed the wind had almost completely fallen. There was not much to enthuse over in the opening stages, Rangers always being the more dangerous side. Sommerville had to save from Cairns, and he ought to have had to clear from Fleming, who when clean through shot weakly past. Fleming was penalised for fouling the Hamilton goalkeeper. Cunningham tried a long drive, but Andy was hot finishing much luck with his shooting, the ball again going past. In an attack on the Rangers’ goal Robb misjudged a cross from the right and had a home forward been on the spot the equaliser must have come. As it was Dixon who was playing as a third back kicked the ball clear. The home forwards were seldom dangerous, but in one of their few raids they got the much desired (by them) equaliser. In a melee the ball went to Moffat, who was lying unmarked, and he beat Robb with a low slanting shot. Imbued with success the home forwards went full steam ahead to get the lead, and in a storm of attack round Robb’s goal they almost forced the ball through. Play had livened up considerably after the equaliser came, and the Accies were more of an attacking force than they had previously been. But Rangers were far from being idle as attackers, and a foul fir hands just outside the penalty area placed the home goal in danger. Dixon got his face cut when he and Gray went for a ball together, the centre-half having to go off to be attended to. Cairns went into the centre-half position and got plenty to do while he was there. Dixon was not long in returning, and the old formation was immediately resorted to, although Morton had to be told to get back to his own place by Skipper Cairns, the outside left having gone into the centre during Dixon’s absence. Accies lead! For the second tine in the game the home team took the lead, with but six minutes to go. Play was forced on the left and a corner conceded. The ball was beautifully placed by Borland and Gibson, getting up to it, headed it past Robb. It looked good for a home win now, but Rangers put in a spirted finish, and three minutes from time Cairns equalised. Prior to the score a lot of fluky kicking took place in front of Sommerville, and when the ball was crossed by Malone. Johnstone failed to get to it. Cairns caught up the pass and scored with ease. Rangers almost got through again before the close, but Cunningham shot weakly when well placed. Both goalkeepers had a lot of saving to do and comported themselves well. Robb was very safe in all he did, but he had not to exert himself quite so much as Sommerville had to do once or twice. A feature of the game was the excellent display of Charlie McCormack, Hamilton’s right back, who held a tricky wing well. His kicking was sure and time and again he came to the rescue of his side when the Light Blues attack was hottest. On the Rangers’ side I liked Billy McCandless, who was his own old self as a tactician. It cannot be said that he made any real mistake. Johnstone was a bit fluky and was largely responsible for giving away the goal which Rangers got to draw. Gray, without being in any way brilliant was serviceable. The best half-back of the six undoubtedly Craig, who forced play in the first half with untiring zeal. He had as many tries for goal as some of his forwards, and on a couple of occasions had hard lines in not scoring. Dixon worked hard all through and defended like a back for part of the second half. Osborne, a clean-cut lad, whom I saw for the first time, did not impress me greatly. For the Accies, McNeil put in a hard hour and a half, and with a good measure of success, too. Young Stewart can be commended, and Thomson did fairly well. Cunningham, Cairns and Morton were Rangers’ best forwards, although it struck me that not one of them was quite so frisky as was their wont. Andy had no luck with his shooting, and he sent in some trimmers which might have met with a better fate. The Academicals’ attack was patchy. Moffat was the outstanding man, and got some good passes from Miller, who was nit at his best. Gibson was a grafter and Borland got some nice balls over. Williamson was keen, but his opportunities few.
