Fleming
A Cunningham
Match Information
Attendance: 14,000
Referee: P Craigmyle (Aberdeen)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
For pace, ball control and general team play, the Academicals were outpointed. That they have it in them to do better, I think was evident enough, but the trouble was they never could get started. Smith was a bit unfortunate in goal. He may have been anxious, as I think he was, but there were times when he did not get the best support from his backs, although I give Allan full credit for keeping his tail up from start to finish. The half-backs, too, hung in well and managed to keep the Rangers’ forwards from running riot. Jack kept good position, intercepted a lot of passes, and was always recovering well. The chief fault with the Academicals was forward. Here they were not a striking force. The best shots came from further behind – from Hunt and Moffat. F Wilson showed liveliness at times, and Howe gave a taste of his quality in the second half, but as a whole, the line did not play well together. There were some jerky bits in the Rangers’ play, but they did not require to go all out. Fleming got the first goal in six minutes when the ball cannoned off Smith’s legs on to his and then went softly into the net. It was more Archibald’s goal than anyone’s. The second goal was beautifully shot by Cunningham when Morton slipped the ball to him. Two-nothing at half-time with the wind might have been little enough for Rangers, but even against the wind they were masters. Fleming headed two more goals after the interval – the first following Archibald’s free kick, and the second from Morton’s nice little lob. The winners’ defence was severely tested, but Hamilton and two masterly saves. Gray was grand, and the half-backs evenly sound. Muirhead was in tip-top form, and so was Archibald. The left-wing had an easy-going match. Fleming’s headed goals were finely taken.
