B McPhail (3)
Dr Marshall (2)
T Craig
Match Information
Attendance: 8000
Referee:
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
From Pittsburgh Mr William Struth, the Rangers manager, tells us of a great reception their touring Scots received there. Evidently, Royalty could not have been given a greater ovation. Team and officials were welcome in the municipal buildings, where ex-Bailie Graham, Mr James Bowie and myself were presented with a gold key of the city by the Mayor. Can you imagine any higher honour than that? In the evening we were the guests of the Clan Grant, 150 strong. We were banqueted, and we danced. Never was there such a wonderful hospitality. Everybody did their best to make us feel at home. Which we did – why, it was ‘jist like being at hame.’ Our match of the Saturday did not come up to expectations – we won too easily. In very wet weather, and on a soft ground, our fellows won as they liked by nine goals to nothing. They simply charmed an eight thousand crowd with a brilliant display of real football. You want to know, of course, who scored all the goals. Well, Bob McPhail got three; J Marshall and Alan Morton two; and Tommy Craig and Jamie Fleming, one apiece. The Glasgow Rangers, soccer football champions of Europe, gave the West Penn All-stars a 9-to-0 drubbing at the Pitt Stadium yesterday. Yes, it was an awful drubbing, boys but it was worth it. Nothing like such bewildering speed and cleverness has very been exhibited in a soccer game here, despite conditions that were enough to reduce any game to a farce. The crowd, while they were inclined to jeer the well-meant but fruitless efforts of the locals, certainly appreciated the clever display of the visiting aggregation. It is too bad that what little competency the locals hah should have been further nullified by the treacherous condition of the ground. Unused to such terrific speed, the local were sliding on their backs for three-fourths of the game, while their opponents toyed with the ball. The awful break in the weather ruined whatever hoped may have been had for success of this venture. Right up to the interval the rain poured down and, as if to make the cup of bitterness just one shade more galling, the clouds broke open at the end of the game and sunshine could be discerned far over in the northwest. On the West Pen side Henderson was undoubtedly the hero of the day. Despite the huge score against him he played a wonderful game. More than half of the score on nine goals could be accounted for by the fact that he was stuck in the mud and could not move when terrific drives were directed at him. Dunlop too, came in for a share of the honours, but after the first half he, too, was too tried to be of any use. As for the Rangers nothing need be said. They were never extended for a moment and no real estimate can be given of what they can really do when faced with a team that can do something. All of the men flashed skill beyond compare in such moments as they were called upon to show themselves, which was seldom. Alan Morton and Archibald showed their great speed on the wing and McPhail was deadly with his shooting. However, Marshall was most in the limelight, for he seemed determined to crush the opposition alone and unaided whenever the opportunity was given him. As a soccer spectacle it was extremely disappointing. The backers of the venture are to be sympathised with for their misfortune, and the West Penn team for conditions which were wholly against them from the start. West Penn won toss and Patton kicked off. Villani repulsed opening move from left wing, but a throw-in by Craig resulted in Villani missing his kick and McPhail scored with a low drive which just beat Henderson. Steady pressure by Rangers kept the ball in the West Penn half, but Brown kept them at by until Muirhead let go a drive which missed by several feet. Zedel’s great pass to Todd was deflected by McCandless, and then followed a piece of real combination by the Rangers’ right wing, which ended with Marshall shooting wide. A long swinging pass to Morton almost brought disaster, but his cross was cleverly blocked by Zedel. Rain continued to fall heavily, and the ground was exceedingly treacherous. A goal scored by Fleming for some unaccountable reason was nullified. Fleming had hard luck with a drive which passed just outside the post, and McPhail’s shot was cleverly handled by Henderson. Henderson again intercepted a cross from Archibald. After Zedel and Villani had successfully held Morton and McPhail, the latter outguessed Brown by touching in to Fleming, who scored a second goal easily. A run by Moran was a welcome relief and his touch to Thompson brought cheers. But Hamilton anticipated the cross and conceded a corner, which was wasted. Repeated attacks by the Rangers were brought to naught by clever defensive work of Zedel, Henderson and Brown, the last named especially being conspicuous by robbing Morton at the right moment. Great excitement followed a brilliant run by Terry Moran, whose cross Dunlop just failed to touch, but with the goal at his mercy, Patton kicked wide. At the other end Henderson pulled off a brilliant save from Marshall. Just a minute later Fleming scored with a long-range shot which Henderson could not reach. Toying with their opponents, the Rangers kept up pressure, and when Craig let go with a long drive, Henderson was beaten for a fourth time. Again, Morton let go a spectacular drive which would have beaten the goalie had it been a few inches less wide. A break through by Zedel ended, with Dunlop’s drive being handled by the Rangers’ goalie, but Dunlop recovered and put to Haist, who ran the ball over the line. Archibald featured with a cross-drive which proved too hold to hold, but the return drive was cleverly tipped over the bar for a corner, from which Meiklejohn put the ball outside. Right on the half-time whistle excitement was caused when Brown and Villani thrice prevented scores at close rangers. Half-time – Rangers 4 West Penn 0. At the re-start McCosky went in for Patton. Todd apparently refused to give way to McLay. The West Penn team attacked, and Hamilton was called upon to save from Dunlop. A race to the other end ended with Archibald shooting wide. Immediately afterwards Henderson made a great drive at the feet of Hamilton and robbed him of a sure goal. Rangers had a narrow shave when McCosky set Haist going and the cross brought a drive from McCosky, which Hamilton saved in grand style. The ball rebounded to Dunlop and his shot struck McCosky, who was prone, while Hamilton was all but beaten. Another great run by Dunlop and Haist brought excitement, but again their parting shots were brought to naught by being in each other’s way. Stark came into the game and took Zedel’s place at centre half and the German took Todd’s place at right-half. To no avail, however, for a moment later Morton lifted the ball over the heads of the defence and beat Hamilton for the fifth time. Thompson next featured with a drive cleverly caught by Hamilton. McPhail scored a sixth goal following a bewildering piece of combination play, and Marshall repeated the performance when Henderson got stuck in the mud and failed to reach his long drive. A lengthy period of midfield play before Marshall again scored, making the eighth marker, following which McLay went in for weary Brown. At last, the locals attacked on the left, Haist’s cross landing at the feet of McCosky, but Hamilton robbed him in the act of shooting. The locals were thoroughly tired out, but every little game effort brought cheers from the crowd. Dunlop and McCosky were applauded for a great effort. Stenzel and Fleming collided, and the game was temporarily stopped. Fleming, playing outside brought off the ninth goal on a pass to McPhail, who had no difficulty beating Henderson at close range
