Mason 113
Match Information
Attendance: 80,000
Referee: Tom Dougray (Bellshill)
Matchday: Wednesday
Match Trivia
Rangers were beaten in the closing fifteen minutes of an extra-time Scottish Cup-tie which, with all its setting, never approached in thrilling incident the contest at Brockville last Saturday. I said to a friend, as the players entered on their extra time of play, I do not like to see a team beaten in the minutes which follow the regulation hour and a half. But if ever a team earned its laurels for what is known as pluckiness, then the ‘Bairns’ o’ Falkirk earned that distinction. What a quiet opening for a match which was expected to provide thrills from beginning to end! Those who were at Brockville were entitled to think so, and those who were not had their enthusiasm worked up to a high pitch by what they read. There was nothing of the Patsy Gallagher dare-devil, not a semblance of the foraging Andrew Cunningham. There was nothing like the lightning flash of Alan Morton; there was nothing of the incidents that stirred those who foregathered at Brockville to the wildest heights of excitement and made them expect something similar at Ibrox. Why was it so? I’ll try to give you a reason. The players got to know so much of one another in the first battle that they had become wary. They were watching one another. Cunningham could not move a yard without someone being on his toes. It was ditto with Gallagher. And y and Patsy were marked men from the beginning. Maybe that was why the game was drab – yes, it was dull for a considerable time. And when you subdue such artistes, the play loses much in quality. Let me say her and now that I consider the Rangers had the winning of the game in the first half-hour. They dominated the play so far as attacking was concerned, and while I grant the Falkirk defence high praise, I consider that such persistent attacking ought to have been made conclusive by at least one goal. Chances were missed. Cunningham initiated a move which left an opening for Morton. Nothing came of it. Archibald shot against Ferguson when he might have given the ball to one of his colleagues. Cunningham almost got through from an Archibald pass, and a grand Morton shot was saved by Ferguson. McMillan missed when in good position, Cunningham shot over when well placed; Ferguson cleared and gave away a ‘corner’ to Morton, on top of which Muirhead lobbed a ball in to Ferguson, who was fouled, and the tension was relieved. But the nearest thing of all was when Morton cut in and just missed. Against this Falkirk were frequently dangerous. A free-kick taken by Scott, and a shot from McIlwaine gave Hamilton trouble, but the attack was mostly at the other end. Yet there was nothing of the needle in the tie. The second half was better; then we began to see that the players were realising that desperate means were required to ‘get there’. Injuries were frequent, and men on both sides had to be attended to. Kennedy was almost through when McCandless saved the situation. Ferguson made a brilliant save from Archibald and the Ibrox right-winger had another fine try which just carried past. Danny Paterson worked his way into the centre at the other end, and looked to have the goal at his mercy, but his shot went straight to Hamilton, who cleared decisively. Falkirk were the better side during this period. Then extra time. This was the great trial of all, and Falkirk proved themselves the gamer lot of the two. If their goal was rather simply got, who is to blame them for that? During this period Rangers were crippled and cripped badly. McCandless sprung a muscle and had to go to the outside-left position. Cunningham fell into the little Irishman’s place, which I thought was a tactical blunder. If the game was to be won Andy should have remained in the attack. Gradually the sting went out of the Ibrox attack; there were signs of despondency elsewhere began to pull a bit out, and seven minutes before the close Patsy gave Mason a perfect pass. Lying unmarked, the outside-right sent the ball across. He might have meant it as an ordinary centre; but, whether or not, it sailed over Hamilton’s head into the net. Rangers were beaten. Gallagher was almost through again when Hamilton saved for a ‘corner’. Followed one Ibrox rally and when that failed all was over – for them. Words can scarcely describe the magnificent work put in by the Falkirk defenders. To individualise would be unfair. Ferguson, Scott and Thomson were heroic. At half-back McIlwaine, who proved himself a champion, had excellent supports in Kennedy and Gowdy. I cannot say the forwards were brilliant. They plodded away willingly, but there was no sparkle. Gallagher seemed to have a scheme of waiting at the back of his head. Paterson and Kennedy were the brightest of the lot. Hamilton has been unfortunate in these Cup games. Little fault could be found with the backs until McCandless cracked up. The half-backs did not impress me; forward only Archibald, Cunningham and Morton rose, but not to those heights we are accustomed to see them climb
