Buchanan
Fleming xx, <45
Match Information
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: T Small (Dundee)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
It is a long time since Falkirk were so hopelessly outclassed by the Ibrox brigade on their own sward. Right from the start the Rangers took the reins, and the Bairns’ defenders had to withstand an almost continuous bombardment. Craig, Cunningham and Morton in triangular formation completely mesmerised the opposition. Wee Alan was in his happiest mood, and his footwork was delightfully accurate. Archibald and Muirhead also struck up a bright partnership, and so confidently did the whole line move that long before the finish the game had become farcical. The score in no way represents the actual run of the play. Falkirk’s intermediate line could make little or noting of the Ibrox attacking party, but the overworked backs, if frequently wilting under the terrible pressure, made a heroic stand. Ferguson too did some remarkably fine work, but he shed some of the lustre by the feeble attempt he made to save Fleming’s shot which brought the fourth goal. There was an entire absence of understanding among the Falkirk forwards, and individual work was of little use against a powerful set of defenders. Falkirk have certainly several problems to solve, and an immediate one is to strengthen the half-back line. This was the weakest department in the team, for the trio were neither able to break up the Rangers’ attack nor to get their own forwards set going. Rangers went about their work in machine-like fashion. Cunningham’s long rest has not impaired his play, and he and Morton had many pretty combined runs. Fleming was always in position, as was demonstrated in the eighth minute when he assisted with his head into the net a shot from Muirhead. Eight minutes later the second goal came along. Craig and Morton worked the ball up the wing in splendid style, and Fleming was left to whip the leather past Ferguson. A raid by the Falkirk right wing afforded Morrison a splendid chance, but the centre shot weakly behind. Shortly after, Kennedy had a fine drive, which Hamilton cleverly parried, and Gall followed with a smashing shot into the custodian’s hands. These were isolated incidents, however, for seldom were the Rangers far away from Ferguson, who was deservedly cheered for diverting behind a typical Cunningham ‘left-footer’. He had no chance with the third goal, which came along three minutes from the interval. Morton and craig again did the leading-up work, but it was Buchanan who drove the ball home. It was a similar tale in the second half. Only eleven minutes had gone when Cunningham pushed the ball ahead for Fleming to shoot. The centre did not get his full weight on the ball, but Ferguson stumbled in making for it and the leather ran over the line and no more. Falkirk’s crumb of comfort was notched by Morrison about a quarter of an hour from the end. Rangers were particularly solid at half-back and forward, but Gray was none too reliable
