Grant 5
B McPhail 17, 60
Match Information
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: H Watson (Glasgow)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Giving Falkirk a goal of a start, in a manner of speaking, Rangers proved too clever, and too strong for them. The goal scored by Falkirk, five minutes after the start, was a gift. Either Dawson or Gray should have cleared easily, had the one left it to the other. Both went for the ball, neither got it because they were in each others way, and Grant rolled it home. Thos was good business for the Bairns, but they failed to live up to their fortune. McPhails equaliser, after 20 minutes, was delayed because of the fine goalkeeping of Thomson, and the failure of Smith to accept more than one apparently easy scoring chance. When half-time came with level pegging, the honours were with the Falkirk defence, for the rangers forwards had played well enough to have made a good lead deserved. We saw something of the Brockville forwards in the early moments of the second half, but though another misunderstanding in the Rangers rear almost proved fatal, there was not nearly enough snappiness in the Bairns attack to promise goals. It was altogether different with the Rangers forwards-. They had the benefit of splendid service from Meiklejohn and Brown, and there was a punch with their finishing which kept Thomson on the alert. There was no reflection on him when he was beaten after fifteen minutes by McPhail, who took the ball on the drop when it came over from Main and hooked it into the net at express speed. Many likely-looking movements by the Falkirk forwards came to nothing after this, for Meechan could not fins a way past Simpson, who played one of the best all-round games I have seen him severe up. Big James is tough, or he would have been put out of the game altogether by a severe throw he received after clearing. There was some needle in the play, and I am afraid Falkirk made themselves due a censure. Besides, they risked a lot by the free kicks they conceded. The last goal of the bunch was Smiths and there was no chance for Thomson there. When the big fellow hits the ball full blast from close range, a goalkeeper knows very little about it until he hears the roar. Then he knows to go to the back of the net. This was a good Rangers team, even if a mistake gave away a goal and there were some finishing failures. The foundation of their strength was at half-back and with McPhail in front. Big Bob did just one thing he shouldnt and neednt have done, but he was a great forward a match winner. Venters, in his League debut, was perhaps at a disadvantage on the right, but he slipped some good passes to Main, who was happy in his own position. There is nothing timid about Main nowadays. He plays football and plays it like an artist. To Falkirks defence I give a big bouquet. They were all plucky and hard fighters, including the half-backs, but apart from Batchelor and Hope, the forwards disappointed. To put a finger on the vital spot I would say it was the subjection of Meechan by Simpson
