Thornton 8
McNee 46
Brady pen 67
Smith 72
Match Information
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: William Webb (Glasgow)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
A lot has been said about the change-over to Ibrox from Paisely. The shop-keeping community deplored the transference, yet a visit to Paisley last night revealed that football enthusiasts sympathised with rather than blamed St Mirren for a position that to some extent had been forced upon them. Yorstons return was welcome, yet opinion is general that the best of Brady is not brought out on the wing. Rangers right-wing experiment was also the subject of Discussion. In the first minute Linwood sent the Paisley crowd roaring. The centre thrust past Woodburn, and chased by Gray shot a foot outside the post. Venters went as near for Rangers, taking service from Thornton and having a fast drive blocked out by McDowall. Hot stuff already, with Saints frisky forwards showing any amount of cleverness and confidence. Rangers attack lay wider, and once Thornton survived a couple of tackles to give way in the goalmouth on a third challenge by Craven. Then Venters and McNee gave off some fancy stuff, and Smith stumbled as he sought to connect. In a breathless duel between Gray and Caskie the latter looked like prevailing, but Dougie got the final cheer for a fine tackle. Rangers attacked on the right, where Smith had temporarily taken position. Johnstone fisted out his high cross, ran out, and smothered Venters return shot. Thornton fastened on, and before Johnstone could get back into goal shot to the roof of the net for first goal for Rangers in eight minutes. Both Saints backs, standing on the goal-line, made futile attempts to reach the ball. Bright combination by Stead and Caskie closed with the latter shooting over. A tricky back-heeler by Smith to Thornton, and service by the latter let Duncanson in for a pot shot which Johnstone, clutched. Caskie tried too much. Robbing McKillop, he sought to bore through and was overpowered. Play lost some of its continuity, strong half-back work being the main feature. As a variation Thornton tried a 30-yard drive which rose over. Duncanson, hurt in a tackle, limped about for a bit and then retired for treatment. Saints forwards seemed overweighted and had not developed the necessary cleverness to counteract that. Stead, however, almost snatched the equaliser in a race for the ball with Dawson. The Saints was a yard late. Jerry came on the ball, and Stead went headlong over him. Duncanson had returned looking all right. Twice Johnstone punched away shots which looked as if they should have been held. Rangers till had the initiative, but the game had so far not reached standard. The crowd was getting little to cause excitement. A miskick by Shaw let Brady in. Cutting in cleverly, he seemed to have an open chance for a shot, instead of which he crossed, and Woodburn was there to close the passage. Saints forwards seems to be getting together, and Rangers attack on the other hand had become distracted and relieved only by individual thrust by Smith and Thornton. McNee was languishing for work, and Duncanson could complain of similar neglect. Close on the interval Caskie and Linwood raced the Rangers defence, the latters shot yielding a corner, followed by another both profitless. The game had livened up greatly. Caskie dodged about till brought down and wanted a penalty properly refused. The last incident was a rare drive from Stead that rebounded off Woodburn. One minute after the restart Rangers struck again. McNee eluded McDowalls challenge, went on and beat Logan, held possession, and from 10 yards beat Johnstone all ends up a very fine individual effort indeed. Smith and McNee next spreadeagled the Saints defence, and the latters swerving shot curled outside the far post. Rangers attack was moving fast, but in fine harmony now. Johnstone had to rush out to prevent Smith racing through. Dawson had to do likewise next minute to stop Linwood. Saints were fighting well, but not playing well. Things remained interesting only by the repeated shooting of Rangers forwards and the fine defence offered McDowall. In a belated attack by St Mirren Linwood rushed the Rangers defence, fell in the goalmouth, and the referee at once gave a penalty. Rangers made a general protest, and Symon appeared to be booked. Brady scored from the spot. St Mirrens forwards never struck a game. Caskie and Brady showed cleverness on the wing, but the Paisley inside forwards were completely mastered by Rangers half-backs. Excepting the first goal Johnstone did well, but McDowall at centre half was the Paisley star. This goal for St Mirren was a much-needed fillip. Saints forwards showed signs of improvement, and Rangers traces of anxiety. Once Smith, right in, shot against Johnstone. He made amends the nest time, swinging past McDowall cleverly from service by McNee and shooting a fine third goal for Rangers 15 minutes from the end. Smith almost had a fourth at once, but was cocksure with the effort, and Johnstone saved. There was a trill left. Caskie careered in past the backs, Dawson threw himself at his feet, saved, and was injured. He recovered and cleared from the resultant corner.
