Fleming <45 & 48
Lyle 75
Match Information
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: M.C. Hutton (Glasgow)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Morton staged a remarkable revival against Rangers at Cappielow yesterday and surprised even their most rabid supporters by wiping out a two-goal lead in the last fifteen minutes of the game. From a well-whacked team, Morton were transformed into very nearly a winning one, for in the end it was Rangers who were struggling hard to avoid defeat. Conditions underfoot were almost deplorable, with mid and loose water, but in the height of the battle all this was forgotten, and for an hour and a half the game was replete with thrills. Rangers took the lead early in the game through a neat goal by Fleming, but I thought them a shade lucky to be turning over at the interval a goal to the good. Morton in this half had played first time football, and this had given the Ibrox defence a lot of bother. The forwards, however, were unable to make good in front of goal, and several easy chances were missed. Early in the second half Rangers went further ahead, and for twenty minutes there was only one team in it. Morton were out of it. The defence was weak, and Alan Morton, Fleming and Brown seemed to be just toying with the opposition. Then came this remarkable revival, and Morton were level. I thought Simpson and Hamilton both to blame for the first goal. The centre-half seemed to put the ball out of Tom’s reach and left Lyle dead on the mark. The second game about indirectly in a remarkable way. McRorie took a shy near the corner-flag, and doing a bit of quick thinking, threw the ball at Bob Hamilton, who was walking away down the bye-line, and thus gained a wily corner. It was from this kick that Morton set up their pressure that culminated in Johnstone putting the ball into the net. Morton, despite this, were not a great team. The half-back line was not an inspiring division. Geddes was unable to cope with the wiles of Alan Morton and Hunter was a hard trier without being a great success. Lawson, indeed, was the only one to pass muster of the trio. Asa result of these shortcomings the whole team was affected. Both Scott and Little had too much to do, and the forwards disjointed themselves by coming back to lend a hand. It was the attack, however, that was the strong part of the team. Properly supported behind, they would have been an impressive quintette. Lyle was a hero, and his clever touches were something to admire. He did not get a great deal of help, but he came out of the game with flying colours. McCartney was his best support, but McRorie at times showed brilliant touches. As I have said before the inside men had too much defending to do. Before leaving Morton and passing on to Rangers I must sat a word for Wilson, the goalkeeper. From a very shaky keeper this boy has developed into a very sound last-line of defence. He had some great saves yesterday. Rangers’ best play came in the first part of the second half, and during this period they should have made absolutely certain of victory. At other times they were at their best. Simpson proved himself a rugged defender, and I do not condemn him altogether for the mistake which led to Lyle’s goal, but he is not a Meiklejohn. The best half-back afield was Whitey McDonald and next to him Craig. The brains of the attack was Alan Morton, who made rings round the defence and paved the way for both Fleming’s goals. Brown and Marshall were clever inside forwards, but both lacked punch at close-quarters, and that undoubtedly cost Rangers a point. Both of Fleming’s headers were nearly taken, but Archibald was not so prominent as usual. In the defence, Gray was a better back than Bob Hamilton, while Tom Hamilton had no picnic in goal. He was om one occasion nearly pushed over his own line by the dashing Lyle, but on the whole, he did well. Rangers were early aggressive, but the slippery footing caused many miskicks and spoiled two hot Rangers’ attacks. Morton then found their feet, and with Lyle and McRorie tricking Bob Hamilton danger threatened. No one, however, was up to turn home the winger’s well-placed cross. Lyle was prominent in opening the way for his wingers, and McCartney taking one of his passes, flew past Gray and centred for Lyle and McRorie. The latter had a easier chance of netting, but he failed to connect, and a rare chance was lost. Ding-dong went the struggle after this until Marshall capped some beautiful football from Brown and Morton with a long drive. Wilson stopped the ball all right, but he had to recover quickly and run out to pick up the ball from a Rangers foot. Morton forwards stung again. Their left wing was in deadly form, and when McCartney headed in a centre from Dorrans it looked all over for Rangers. But Bob came to namesake Tom’s rescue and headed clear. But it was a near thing. Wilson got a great cheer when he palmed out a full drive from Alan Morton, and then recovered to save another shot from Brown. Then thirty-two minutes after the start Rangers took the lead. The goal came simply from one of the many corners that the Morton defence had conceded. Fleming taking Morton’s corner with his head and putting it well out of Wilson’s reach. Morton retaliated strongly, Dorrans gave Tom Hamilton a tricky lob to handle, and before the keeper could get the ball away, he was swept from his feet and had to throw the ball for a corner. Dorrans was even closer with his next try, which struck the cross-bar near the corner. It was a great shot from near the penalty line. Wilson stopped in brilliant fashion another close-in header by Fleming, but he was nearly beaten when Little deflected a shot from Brown. Within two minutes of the restart – and they had been crowded with beautiful Rangers’ football – the visitors were two up. The Morton defence got in a tangle from a Morton run and Fleming had no one to beat when he headed the ball into the goal via the underside of the cross-bar. Rangers seemed to be playing well within themselves for the next twenty minutes, and it came as a big surprise when Morton suddenly broke away and scored. Johnstone worked the ball into position for Lyle. The centre was covered by Simpson, and T Hamilton dashed out to clear. There seemed to be a misunderstanding between the two, and next thing Lyle was nipping round the keeper with the ball at his feet and shooting into a vacant goal. Then it was Morton’s turn to smile. Making another of their quick rushes they forced a corner, and from this Hamilton had to save half-a-dozen times. Then Johnstone in a melee got possession, wormed his way till he saw the goal. Then without hesitating he slammed it home. The few minutes that remained for play were chock-full of thrills – but it was Morton that were supplying them with their lightning attacks.
