S Archibald 6
R Kennedy
Match Information
Attendance: 20,233
Referee: Tom Dougray (Bellshill)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
From the day the draw came out everyone I spoke to prophesied a thrilling Cup-tie at Brockville Park. For once the prophets gave credit to the mantle they had donned. It was a magnificent game to watch, full of as good football as I have seen for many a day, under conditions which were none too conducive to the best game, and only marred now and again by incidents which might well have been cut out. Up till six minutes to go it seemed as if the Rangers’ chance of winning the Cup had gone for another year. They were not beaten by any means on play; but the Falkirk defenders during all their stormy times seemed capable of keeping out the too-eager Rangers forwards. Six minutes to go and the ‘Bairns’ were still holding to the lead which they had obtained I the first half. Then a penalty kick. A ball was going past from a straight kick forward by Meiklejohn when McIlwaine put up both hands. He didn’t stop the ball, which went past, but he must have touched it, and Mr Dougary had no hesitation in granting a penalty kick. Billy McCandless was called upon to take the kick. I don’t think he liked the task, but he made an excellent job of it. It was a tense moment for all. But the ball flew from the Irishman’s foot high into the net, and Rangers were saved. On few occasions have I seen such enthusiasm. Many of the Ibrox followers ran on to the field, and for a moment there was a scene seldom seen on a football ground – spectators running about and shaking hands with players. Pandemonium reigned for a moment. Peace was restored in a minute. The game was resumed, and Rangers looked like as if they would win the game. My sympathy goes out to Falkirk in this respect, that they were playing practically a passenger during half-an-hour of the second half. Ritchie sprung a muscle and was useless. I think it would have been better had he been taken off. Disorganised as they were, however, Falkirk had chances to win the game near the end, and if Danny Paterson had been as deadly as he usually is he would have done so. But these are the ‘ifs’ of the game. Against the Rangers’ penalty goal, one must put the simple second that Hamilton lost. A ball which he would catch nine times out of ten he allowed to slip between his hands. In my opinion a draw was a fair reflex of the run of the game, and in their calmer moments I believe everyone will agree. To begin with Rangers put up a stormy attack, such a I haven’t seen from them for long enough. It was no spasmodic affair. Every movement was well though out. The half-backs and forwards worked in harmony, and when Falkirk did raise the siege, they were met by a cool and collected pair of backs. It was during this period that Archibald scored a grand goal. Then came the turn of events Falkirk came more and more into picture, and when Kennedy equalised, they became the dominant force. Followed Falkirk’s goal from the foot of Paterson to which I have referred. There wasn’t the same clean football in the second half. Fouls were frequent, and when Ritchie got crocked the pendulum swung in favour of the Rangers. It looked as of they would be held, but the unnecessary, but justifiable, penalty kick kept them from winning. Really, I don’t think Rangers could have equalised otherwise, so well were the Falkirk defence playing. Thus, came to a close an epic struggle for victory. And now for a short resume as to how the game ran. Amid roars of excitement from both parties the game was started at terrific pace. Rangers were first dangerous, but Falkirk soon turned the tide with long swinging passes. Rangers on top. For the next few minutes, the Light Blues were on top, and brilliant drives by Cunningham were stopped by Ferguson. Brilliant saves they were one of which he had to clear by tipping over the bar. After Falkirk had another brief turn of attacking, Rangers returned with renewed vigour, Morton leading the way with a run which took him half the length of the field. First goal! It was quite evident that all this Rangers attack must have a reward, and it was no surprise when Archibald drove the ball high into the net. It was a brilliant goal, led up to by grand football. McCandless steady! When Falkirk were attacking McCandless proved himself a clean and clever back. Clever Gallagher. Patsy had a clever run, which ended in the ball going to Mason, who had a good try which carried over. The equaliser! At the end of 21 minutes Falkirk got the equaliser. The play which led up to it was begun by Gallagher, taken part in by Hunter, who pushed the ball out to Mason. The latter centred, and J Kennedy getting the ball on the turn, scored with a fine shot, which struck the roof of the net. Falkirk lead. With twenty-seven minutes gone. Falkirk took the lead. The scorer was Paterson, who cutting in tried a pop with his right foot. Hamilton ought to have got the ball but allowed it to pass between his hands. Two corners were forced by Rangers, and from the first Cunningham drove in a fierce shot. Up went Ferguson’s hands to accomplish a brilliant save. Towards the interval Rangers had hard luck in not equalising. The second half began as fast as the first had left off. Rangers were again the attackers. Morton had a chance but delayed in getting in his shot following which Fleming headed narrowly past from Archibald’s cross. Feeling creeps in. As play progressed some nasty incidents crept into the game, and the referee was kept busy. Rangers were aggressors. But when Falkirk came along, they nearly were scorers, Gray miskicking to put the ball over his own goal bar. After that Hamilton had to save on several occasions, and once he was interfered with by Gray to the jeopardy of his goal. Ritchie was injured and had to go to outside-left. A penalty! With six minutes to go Rangers were awarded a penalty for ‘hands’ against McIlwaine. McCandless took the kick and scored, and crowds surged on to the field to congratulate the scorer or anyone else they could lay hands on. Where all did so well it is difficult to criticise; but some rose above their fellows. I don’t know that there were two men on the field who did more useful work than Patsy Gallagher and Andrew Cunningham; there weren’t two better half-backs then McIlwaine and Ritchie (while the latter was fit), who in my opinion, was the best half-back of six. These were supermen in a gruelling contest, and when I single them out I do so without seeking to do the slightest injustice to others. On the day Ferguson was a much superior goalkeeper to Hamilton. I was sorry to see the Ibrox man lose such a soft goal, but there were flaws in other parts of his work as well, while I couldn’t see one in the whole afternoon’s display of the Brockville man. It is difficult to say which was the better pair of backs. At times I liked them all. Gray and McCandless were beautiful kickers, and took up position with judgment, but for robust tackling and kicking under severe pressure Scott and Thomson were outstanding. The latter is sure to be heard of latter on. Shaw as a defending half-back could not have been improved upon, but Craig I have seen do better. He had a tough proposition in Gallagher. Meiklejohn, I thought was nit just too fit, but did well for time. Kennedy, in a quieter way than some of the others, come out of the ordeal with credit. I have mentioned two forwards, but all did their part. Morton, Fleming and Archibald were always dangerous, and McMillan had a mission and that was to get after Gallagher as often as possible. Indeed, that seemed to be the purpose of quite a few. The Brockville forwards were upset in the second half by the injury to Ritchie, for Paterson had to come to the inside. But throughout they could be described as successes. Hunter was good, Mason got over some nice balls without much effort, and centre-forward Kennedy looks as if he would develop into a rattling good leader.
