Dr Marshall
B McPhail (2)
Match Information
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: P Craigmyle (Aberdeen)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
At the third attempt Cowdenbeath couldn’t stop the Rangers. It would have taken a very good team to do it, for the pitch was to the liking of the champions, and they played some captivating football. From that start, the Fifers were right up against it, and it was a tribute to Middleton that only a couple of goals were scored in the first half. He did some tip-top saving, having frequently to come through some of his own to do it. Both McMahon and Johnstone showed grit in going after the prancing Ibrox forwards, but in the second half the strain told, and but for more good saving by Middleton the score would have gone higher. Cowdenbeath’s forwards never could get properly set, owing, no doubt, to the surveillance of Meiklejohn over Lindsay, which left the wings in doubt as to what to do to get through. There was also the fact that the Ibrox half-backs were in complete harmony with Gray and R Hamilton, the covering-up being as good as you wish to see. Rangers took the lead in 17 minutes. Morton placed a free kick to Fleming, who headed to Marshall, who in turn, headed into the net out of Middleton’s reach. It was a one-way game for a long time until the Cowdenbeath forwards began to pull out. From a Lindsay free kick, close on the penalty line, Tom Hamilton dropped the ball, and there was a chance of an equaliser, but Gray got across and cleared. Cowden’s forwards did better all round for a spell, but the finishing was not so good. It was different at the other end, where the Rangers’ attack brought out some more fine saving by Middleton before he was beaten by McPhail, following clever play on the right and a pass across by Fleming, who saw McPhail unmarked. Higgins gad a great chance to head home just on the interval, but he was too high. The second half was nearly all Rangers. McPhail headed a third goal from Morton’s corner-kick eleven minutes after the restart. Fleming from point-black range, shot the fourth, and also got a fifth after running in with a lob pass from Archibald. The whole Ibrox front line worked well, and Marshall giving any amount of driving force, and making a right good partner for Archibald, who was going strongly all the time. The left wing pair had a sort of joy day, and – who said Wembley for two? Fleming was often near the mark, and he took his two goals in a way that left Middleton helpless
