A Morton 2
J Smith 12, 69
Match Information
Attendance: 13,000
Referee: P Craigmyle (Aberdeen)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Young Alan Morton began it. A couple of minutes and he had shot a goal with a spring and a snap which Alan Morton of a couple of handfuls of years ago couldnt have bettered. There was a lot too much of Rangers in a one-sided first half, and a good deal of Alan Morton, who had found a yard or two since last time out. It was a one-way game right up to the interval, and Jackson knew all about that. So did Hamilton, who had a splendid view. Rangers got their second ten minutes after the first. There was a whole lot of bad luck here for the Thistle, for Jackson was placed to save a not too strong left-foot shot from Smith when Donnelly intercepted with his foot and deflected the ball away from the goalkeeper. But, on play, Rangers were two goals superior. Partick could not father themselves together. They got little chance, for the Ibrox half-backs were persistently getting the ball through to their forwards, who hovered round Jackson for long periods. He made a bunch of clever saves, and was grateful, no doubt, to see a Stevenson header hit the post when he was beyond reach. Coming on for the interval, the Thistle forwards managed to shake themselves out, and they opened the second half by swinging the ball about, much to their advantage. Then the Ibrox half-backs had to do a bit of defence, but they and Deans and McDonald could always counter the moves of the too obvious Firhill raiders. The nearest thing was a shot by Grove, which caused Hamilton to spring full length to get the ball at the post. Firhills half-backs were covering up better, but 23 minutes after the change round, a bewildering round of passing led to the third goal. From Morton to Brown and then to Marshall the ball was delivered with perfect precision. Then Marshall sent it on to Smith, who strode ahead and sent away a shot of tremendous power which Jackson no fault to him could not deal with. Sone quite needless feeling came into the game, but for the most part it was sportingly contested. Partick disappointed. It was the poorest game I have seen them play. The forwards just did what the opposition could foresee them doing, and that made it easy for the opposition. Rangers played some attractive man-to-man football, and on the day, the changes did not materially affect the team work. Deans was always master of his job. He was equally sure with head and feet, and his positional play was sound. Debutant Stevenson went about his work with complete confidence, manipulated the ball like a two-footed artist, and erred only in not sending the pass away more quickly at times. He is original and has any number of moves to call upon.
