Gillick 36, 87
A Venters 57
Match Information
Attendance: 25000
Referee: R.C. Scott (Glasgow)
Match Trivia
Kick the blanket ball! shouted Ranger Willie Woodburn in sheer exasperation one time in the second half as a couple of his chinas footered about like most of them had been footering about all afternoon. I thought it was exceptionally well put, and I would like Willie to know that the reception in the press-box was excellent. If you havent gathered as much already, I want to say that it was an easy-oasy sort of final. It was a final that Partick Thistle might have won if theyd had a Venters. They were the shocking shooters, were the Jags, all except that cheekie little chappie Newall, about whom I had so much to tell you in the story of the Parkhead semi-final. Willie Woodburn got a taste of what Celtics Waddell had to suffer on that occasion. The wee fellow, who used up more energy than all the other Thistle forwards put together, could beat the Ranger on the turn. Often his nimbleness left him with only Jerry Dawson to beat. But Jerry was a real problem. Once or twice Newall had rank bad luck, but as a rule, the Ibrox keeper came out and narrowed the angle to such an extent that he was compelled either to shoot wide or straight into the safest pair of hands in the game. McSpadyen never got the chance to show how easily he could have outpaced Shaw. Younger wasnt the partner for him, and another big disappointment to me was Willie Sharp. What actually saved Thistles face was the excellence of their half-back line! If Husband keeps on improving, I shall soon be suggesting to the Selectors that they should have a look at him. Theres poise and polish aplenty in this laddies make-up. Moreover, he never knows when he beaten. Alex Sharp had another good game for his new club though in a less distinguished manner than his brother wing half. It wanted ten minutes to tea-time before Rangers got their first goal and there was a good deal of luck about it, if I may say so. Johnstone shoved the ball hard over to Venters. Alex swung at it with all his power, but merely sliced it. It was a ball that might have landed anywhere, but very conveniently for the Light Blues it dropped nicely at Gillicks foot, and Torry had a simple task of fire it home. Fourteen minutes after the restart Venters put Rangers two up from a Johnstone pass after Gillick had almost smashed the crossbar matchwood. It was only after this the game began to warm up. Indeed, on one occasion it warmed up just a bit too much. Johnstone had what I consider the most humiliating experience that can come a players way when he was sent retrieve a ball that he had kicked away in a fit of pique. Henderson, the Thistle keeper, didnt help matters when after one of the net boys had lifted the ball and brought it up to the goal, he kicked it away back to its original position. Though Thistle had quite a lot of the play, it was always apparent that Rangers carried the heavy stuff. If Gillick had been in shooting form, he might have had a field day. If Stan Matthews hadnt just been out for an afternoon sunbathing, or if he had been half-fit, Bobby Beath would probably have been going around in circles yet! Adam Little must have proved to Ibrox customers that his sojourn to Airdrie has done him no harm, and I think that if he signs up again George Thomson will probably do Scot Symon out of his place next season.
