Dr Marshall 49
Meiklejohn pen 89
Match Information
Attendance: 48,000
Referee: W Bell (Motherwell)
Matchday: Monday
Match Trivia
From the position of the two clubs on the League table I looked for something better than was seen in the Glasgow Cup semi-final tie at Firhill yesterday. We had thirty minutes of real football from one side only in the first half – and that was the Rangers. They might easily have got something out of them, and possibly would had the referee not made what I considered a bad decision in calling Morton for offside when McPhail gave him one of the finest passes of the game. I refer particularly to this incident, because it happened at a time when Rangers deserved to be leading. It was the genius of Morton that deceived the referee, though he ought not to have been deceived. Morton, instead of taking the left foot to the ball, took his right to flick it round O’Hara and swerve past him, drawing in his back as he went. It was the move of a master mind – and it went for nothing. On the run of the game up to the interval the Thistle were fortunate to be on level terms. Their half-backs were playing poorly, merely thumping the ball, and the forwards suffered accordingly. Still, they might easily have pocketed a goal when boy Turner scampered away and turned the ball back into the centre. There was only Gray to defend, but not a Thistle man was up. As an exhibition of football, the second half was not at all satisfactory. Marshall’s goal five minutes after the interval was a curious affair. Muirhead sent the ball through to him, and when he attempted to shoot, he fluffed the ball. But this turned out a lucky thing for Rangers, for Jackson went down to save what should have been a shot, and the ball not coming to him as he had expected, Marshall got a second chance, and this time rammed the ball home. This goal should have given Rangers back their first-half swing, but instead, they went all wrong. It was the Thistle who looked more like taking the game in hand. Thie half-backs slapped the ball ahead and there were more live wires in their attack; only the forwards did not always work in unison. Still, they worried the rangers’ defence considerably even when Elliott changed places with Grove, owing to the former being injured. It was the nearest thing possible to an equaliser when Hamilton just managed to get his hand to the ball as it was going under the bar, and then punch it clear. Rangers’ attack had faded out except for some spasmodic thrusts by Archibald, Morton and Marshall. We got to within two minutes of the end when Marshall had the ball sent through to him. He was inside the penalty box, to the left, and immediately he started running Calderwood was on him, and – I must say – foolish tripped him. The Thistle back could have saved the situation by waiting for Marshall to come round, but there you are – a penalty had to be awarded. Meiklejohn took it, and converted, the ball hitting Jackson’s right-hand post and racing behind him into the net. That was the end of it, for the Thistle, from having had a good fighting chance of a draw, were surely beaten. It was a punishing game with plenty of excitement, but except for that spell in the first half when rangers played football, the standard was not high. It was quite apparent that the players had the cup-tie tension. Tom Hamilton’s two-handed save was about all he had to do. Jackson’s job was much harder, and he did grandly. He positions himself with skill and has a fine pair of hands. I have seen no better goalkeeper. O’Hara more than realised my expectations. His anticipation was sound, and in the second half he kicked a splendid ball. He timed his interventions well. His chief trouble was in the first half when McPhail was going strong – the best forward on the ground at that time. Calderwood did very well indeed. Gray, I thought, fell back too much in the second half, although he was a good back up to the interval. This falling back was also a fault of Meiklejohn’s although he was a magnificent half-back up to the interval with head and feet. I thought Newry Hamilton showed distinct signs of coming on. If he could cultivate his right foot, he would do himself a good turn. He was a big improvement on the last time I saw him. Rangers had the better half-backs. Buchanan was a great worker. I liked Craig’s long passes on the ground. A forward can make something of these. But I did not think he quite touched his own best standard, yet he was good. Thistle’s half-backs disappointed me. They gave their forwards poor support. Too much first-time kicking and not enough holding it. Elliott was no doubt upset by a knock on the right hip, but I have seen him do a great deal better. For the whole 90 minutes Archibald was the best forward on the ground, although Morton and McPhail were a fine wing until the inside man sagged. Morton still stands on his own for the little tricks of trapping and footwork. Muirhead is a skilful, natural footballer, but I would rather see him in the half-back line. Marshall worked terribly hard and got his goal by sheer pertinacity. I think I could make a player of him if I had him for two sessions of half-an-hour. If he is willing, so am I. It was the lack of cohesion among the Thistle forwards that was wrong. Young Turner should get the ball a yard in front of him. I am certain there are possibilities in him if he is properly played to. Grove did not strike his game, nor did Ballantyne and Torbet until too late. Simpson is weak in heading, and he requires to bring the right foot more into action.
