Muirhead 25
Simpson 51
Match Information
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Joe P. Rowe (Glasgow)
Matchday: Wednesday
Match Trivia
For 84 minutes of the match at Firhill. Last night, Partick thistle played without O’Hare. He made to stop Morton but missed his man and fell awkwardly. After being attended to, he went on the field again but had to gibe in. Archibald was also in the ears. After about 15 minutes he was heavily tackled by Boardman, and he was of little or no use afterwards. It would have been better for Rangers if he had gone off at once, for the four forwards left could then have know what they were about. It was a stubbornly contested match, and the Thistle deserve all credit for their uphill fight, no one more so than Ballantyne. Rangers got the lead after 25 minutes. Buchanan placed a free-kick and Jackson pushed the ball out with both hands. Muirhead grasped at the chance presented, and with very fine judgment, placed the ball out of Jackson’s reach into the far corner of the net. This was not a shot. A shot would probably have gone all astray, and the average player would have gone for a shot, but Muirhead showed right here that he has a footballer’s head on his shoulders. On the play up to half-time, Rangers should have gone well ahead. Gilt edged chances were missed. Fleming was a particular sinner, while after Morton had made a beautiful opening Marshall and Archibald went for the ball together, and between them muddled the chance. The nearest the thistle same to scoring was when Ballantyne sent Simpson away, and the centre, running on, sent past with only Tom Hamilton in front of him. Eight minutes after turning round, the Thistle equalised. Torbet rounded Buchanan and ran on. Then he pushed the ball beautifully into the centre to Simpson, who made sure this time. Tom Hamilton had no chance. In this second half the Thistle forwards had only about three raids, and from one of them Simpson might have enabled Torbet to score, but he tried to work through by himself. For the rest, Rangers were on top, but at finishing the forwards were just about as bad as you could not wish to see. Even Craig might have pulled a winner, but when Jackson palmed the ball to him, he merely headed it into Jackson’s hands again. This followed a header by Fleming, who should have made an easy job of scoring. But all the time the handicapped Thistle were taking the most out of themselves. They deserved the cheer they got when the whistle went. Jackson is a fine goalkeeper, but he should learn to punch the ball instead of palming it. When he is using his hands to clear he ought to make sure that the ball is put away at an angle. Elliot, who went to tight back when O’Hara retired, was a grand defender. His judgment was sound, and he played with great spirit. McLeod also delighted with his heady distribution. He does not slavishly devote himself to his left wing. Ballantyne and Torbet were the best wing on the field. Torbet never hesitated to leave the touch-line and he can shoot. Ballantyne has never played harder. One little bit od advice to Simpson – he should not interfere with the goalkeeper unless by charging. Simpson has plenty of pluck, and he may come. Grove was a grafter, but Ness, especially in the second half, was not getting much of the ball. Tom Hamilton had little to do, but he did it well, and he had no chance with the goal. Neither Gray nor R Hamilton was impressive. I did not think Gray would have attempted to dribble the ball near goal as he did once, with almost disastrous result. Craig was a splendid constructive half-back in the first half – perhaps the best player, then on the field. Afterwards he went up to try to get a goal. Ireland was strong and effective. When Buchanan saw his forwards unable to score in the second half, he went ahead to force things, which too few half-backs do. He had one great effort to go through, and when he failed and fell, I saw him unfairly dealt with. Some people cheered, I am sorry to say, for up to that point Buchanan had played the game as it should be played. There are-too few of his whole-hearted kind, or football would be more interesting. Up till fifteen minutes from the end Muirhead’s craft was one of the features. The master mind was there. Morton in the first half was himself
