W Reid (2)
Leitch
Match Information
Attendance: 12000
Referee:
Matchday: Tuesday
Match Trivia
We had a most delightful entertainment at Ibrox Park yesterday. Rangers were playing a team representing the Rest of Glasgow, and as an indication of the interest aroused a sum of £340 was drawn, exclusive of tickers sold, of which there was a goodly number. The proceeds go to the Lord Provost’s Belgium Relief Fund. It is gratifying to know that football has done so splendidly in this noble cause, for we must not forget that last season, when Celtic played against the Rest of the League at Hampden Park, the Fund benefited to a considerable extent. Rangers have so many played invalided that they were under the necessity of enlisting the services of R Sibbald of Queen’s Park, for the outside right position, and of Leitch, of Partick Thistle, for inside left. A clever Ashfield junior was given a trial at left half. He played under the name of Johnston, but his identity was well known to many of those present (McKenna). What is more, he made a most favourable impression I rather fancy he will not long remain a junior. Joe Dodds was on the ground, but his injury of the day before compelled him to stand down from the Rest team, and Caffrey of Partick Thistle, came in at right back. McNair accommodating himself to the left back position. To most people the result came as a complete surprise. Rangers, however, played the better game. They were the more compact side, the stronger in defence, more effective in their tackling at half, and nipper and better balanced forward. Against a stiff breeze Rangers were quickly moving into the Rest defence, and it took them only five minutes to take the lead. Bennett heading strongly in following a corner. The ball on its way towards the corner of the net seemed to get another touch from someone, but , anyhow, Shingleton failed to reach it. Rather slow to warm to their work, the Rest at last put some fire into their forward play, but with Manderson keeping Browning pretty well in hand, and Alan Morton unable to make anything of the junior half-back, Rangers continued to play the more prominent part. The whole Rangers’ front line too park in some pretty combination, and after Reid had twice lofted the ball over the bar, he scored with an un-saveable shot from short range. The chance went to him as the result of a puzzling passing run by Leitch and Paterson, and the latter’s centre was right to the feet of the scorer. Then the Rest went into the game in real earnest. McTavish showing the way with some clever dribbling. A stout resistance by the Rangers’ defence, in which Manderson, Logan and ‘Johnstone’ were conspicuous, beat, back many likely raids, but at length McTavish capped some good forcing work by him and Browning with a clever goal. Rangers thus led at the interval by 2 goals to 1, and as they had been facing the wind they had every reason to feel confident. Their confidence was further justified when Reid scored a third goal in as taking a manner as I have ever seen him do. Paterson, who had struck up a great combination with Leitch – they were the best wing on the field – was the one to begin the movement. He made some ground and then passed to Leitch, who transferred to Reid, and the centre forward in past Caffrey, and at an angle, shot the ball over Shingleton’s head. But the scoring was not yet ended. The Rest put in a big effort, and the forwards, settling down to a better game than they had yet shown, gave the Rangers’ defence no relief until Gallagher neatly met a centre from Browning and placed the ball past Lock’s guard. The finish was full of interest; for by this time Morton and Gallagher had begun to know each other, and what with the Celtic man’s accurate passes and Morton’s speed there were some lively tussles round Lock. Rangers were not done with either, and near the end the clever passing among the forwards opened up some excellent chances. However, at 3-2 it ended, and the Rangers’ nine with two helpers became entitled to the badges which will commemorate a pleasant occasion. We could do with more games of this sort. It was refreshing fruit. If there was excitement it was of a healthy kind, but the great point was that the players felt they could take advantage of the occasion to play natural unemotional football. Force was secondary to science, head ruled feet. And yet there was some good, solid, fair charging, and nobody any the worse for it. Yes, if the fund benefited, so did we as onlookers
