Johnstone 32
A Venters 40, 52
McCulloch 49
Ellis pen 82
Match Information
Attendance: TBC
Referee: J.M. Martin (Fife)
Match Trivia
Whats wrong here? Rangers beaten by a penalty! 'Heavens, remarked one fellow as we came out of Ibrox, the referee will never live that down. What will the funny columnists have to write about now? And they said penalty-kick wins were Rangers copyrights! He had to have his joke. But Im going to tell you there was nothing phoney about the granting of the spot-kick eight minutes before the end of this tensely gripping struggle which saw the champions suffer their second successive defeat. Woodburns infringement justified the award and there was Ben Ellis as cocky as a youngster, to crash it behind Dawson who, in this fascinating, fluctuating duel had one save I longed to photograph and show to all as one of the greatest I have ever seen. And there were many such thrilling incidents in a game fought out with all the fervour and excitement of a Cup final. There was, for instance, Bremners shot that crashed against a post; Johnstones banana-like effort that struck the bar over McClorys head and the amazing series of six yard Gillick shots, each of them blocked and finishing by Fulton, on the goal line, lashing out wildly at a fierce drive and sending the ball into touch. Dont listen to those who tell you this marks a Rangers decline. They are still the most captivating, dominant force in the League, which really enhances Motherwells feat, one they performed last season, dont forget. Im giving McCulloch chief credit. Wily fellow that his is, he compelled his mates to move freely and with precision when a less crafty leader might have had them coming in and thus defeating his whole scheme. It meant that the Ibrox defence was opened up and the result was that every Fir Park thrust carried a menace. Yet I say a draw would have been a more equitable outcome, indeed, I would have had nothing to argue against a Rangers victory. A Smith or a Thornton would have achieved that, I know McIntosh is a youngster and has his points, but all the time I felt he was mystified by the ideas of his own inside forwards. How Venters wrought to make it a big day for him. Instead, Alex made it a big day for himself with two masterly goals that put the label on as big-hearted an effort as ever I did see. When Johnstone recorded Motherwells first goal in the thirty-fifth minute a beautiful thing it was with McCulloch behind it Venters rubbed it out with a shot few could have equalled. And it was Venters again who equallised three minutes after McCullochs memorable goal in the second-halfs fourth minute. I must tell you about Davies counter. Some thirty yards out, he swung to a Johnstone cross and piloted the ball away from Dawsons seeking fingers into the corner of the net. It was so unexpected, so perfect in execution that the full significance of it did not dawn on us for quite a time. I must give full-marks to Fulton, a resolute, confident defender who, like the imperturbable Blair and the exuberant Ellis never allowed Rangers spells of aggression to become a monopoly. Turnbull is commended for his pleasing display in Ogilvies berth. The half backs never faltered, but none compared with the urging, distinguished Symon. And when it was all over, they shook on it. Thats what I like as much as anything. But Motherwell and Rangers have always been like that.
