G Brown
J Smith
J Smith (2)
Match Information
Attendance: 10000
Referee:
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
North American Tour - There was very little doubt left in the minds of the spectators of Saturday’s match between Rangers and Carsteel as to why the former have won seven Scottish League championships since the war and four in a row, as well as taking the Scottish cup twice in the past three years. While there were times that Carsteel were troublesome, these were not very many and the usual thing was that the local defence were wracking their wits to find a system to cope with the over changing tactics of the visitors. Led by Alan Morton, the Scottish Champions, from goal out, gave a splendid exhibition as to how the game should be played. Carsteel, though beaten soundly, at almost all stages, gave an excellent account of themselves, and with a bit more cohesion in the front rank, might have got a lot closer than 5-2. Joe Butler, the Steel captain, took a chance on the wind and lost out. He won the toss but chose to play into the teeth of a rather strong breeze, evidently figuring on having the better advantage in the closing stages of the game. As it happened, the wind dropped down quite a bit when the Montreal team had it at their backs, and the superior team-work of the visitors did not enable the locals to take as much advantage of it as they might. Carsteel, who apparently did not play as well as when against Kilmarnock, were facing far stiffer opposition, and the big pitch had the forwards rather in the air. There always seemed to be something unconnected in the movements of the local forwards, due no doubt, to the largeness of the ground and the necessity of the inside man played well back to assist the harassed defence. The big concrete stand was half-filled, that is the side paralleling the pitch, up Delorimier Avenue was comfortably filled with the bleachers and the ‘rush’ being more so, with a slight overflow down around the corner. The ground looked in perfect condition, in contrast to what Tom Craig called ‘the desert’ the title not being out of place at all, considering the conditions when the Glasgow team last played there. Visions of a stirring game were immediately conjured up following the kick-off by Smith, towards Ontario Street, for the first dangerous move of the match was made by the home team. Someone sent the ball ahead, MacLaine dashing after it. Gray and Hamilton dispossessed him once, but he resigned the ball, hitting the side of the net with a quick shot. The excitement was not over, as Carsteel returned right away, MacLaine sent out a long pass to Chedgzoy. Sam beat the back and centred perfectly. MacLaine did not quite get his head squarely to the ball, only deflecting it along to McEachran, who drove for the far side of the net, but Hamilton was on the job, saving handily. Rangers then took up the running for the first time. Morton and McPhail delighted with their foot-work and passing, Alan ending the move with the ball almost on the goal-line and only ten feet to the side of the net. He scooped it to Smith’s head, the centre man heading just over the bar, the ball grazing it. Mellin bumped a Ranger on the right, a free-kick being given against him. Finlayson headed away. Rangers pushed an attack nearly home, but the backs played McPhail off-side. Brown and Fleming made a first-class right wing, the small school-teacher with he golden head of hair showing readily why Rangers were so anxious to get him out of outlaw football. Fleming finished a five-man passing bout with a nice centre, which found no takers, until Morton shot over. Carsteel attacked again, McEachran sent in a high lob of the dangerous kind, Hamilton clearing for the moment, with the ball going out to Chedgzoy, who centred for MacLaine to head into Hamilton’s hands. McEachran nearly got there a moment later, with a slow bouncing shot, which Hamilton could not see until the last second, as his vision was blocked by the men in front. Rangers took play to Sharp for a time, but nothing spectacular happened. They came again, Sharp pushing the ball around the post on a good shot from McPhail, which was going just inside the woodwork. Sharp again was in the lime-light, taking a pass meant for Smith. Some wonderful short-passing brought Rangers their first goal The ball had gone from Morton over as far as Brown and the odd looked good for it to continue on its journey to Fleming. Brown made a move as to do so, but in the same motion shot for the far side of the goal, the ball passing Sharp before he could turn around and get to it. Calder was hurt and had to retire to the side-line for repairs, being away some time. Sharp robbed Smith of a goal when he took the header, following Morton’s run and centre. It was a good save at a five-foot distance. Smith seemed to be peeved, for he roughed it up with the goalie and was pulled up for it. Again, Sharp averted a goal with a wonderful save, coming 15 feet out of his goal to Fleming, who was cutting in from the side alone. He waited until the winger was just about to shoot and dropped, blocking the ball, but did not hold it, Butler coming up just in time to clear it away. Morton was ever dangerous, his centres being deadly. He did not run extremely fast but kept the ball always at his toes. Another of those centres brought the second goal. Smith came up on the gallop to head past Sharp as the latter was about to dive out for the ball. Things happened fast after this. Carsteel put in a furious stack, and Meiklejohn pushed MacLaine with his elbow as the centre man was about to shoot. This was right in front of goal, and the referee without hesitation gave a kick from the ’spot’. There was some argument, the Scots not agreeing at all with the verdict, but there was nothing to be done about it, so they accepted it as inevitable. Lorimer took the shot, beating Hamilton, who stood still on the line as the rule calls for now. Barely had the cheering died down when Rangers got this goal back. They attacked in force, with Morton again being the spearhead. He lobbed another slow, easy centre across the goal. The defence missed it, but McPhail didn’t, and with a fast shot to the post he beat Sharp by a foot or so. Just before the interval, Lorimer handled outside the penalty area, McDonald placing well, but the ball was got rid of. Morton had left the field after the last goal but came back again with the whistle. The match had not been in progress again more than a couple of minutes when the visitors were further ahead. Sharp saving well, but lost the ball, and before he could recover or any other defender could do much, Brown arrived and netted. MacLaine had a fine chance to close the gap, being clean away. Hamilton did not know exactly what to do, coming out in a hesitating manner, but MacLaine elected to shoot from 15 yards out, missing by a foot or more. Carsteel were now playing at their best, and several fine moves just fell short of being goals. A free-kick against Rangers on the right, gave Carsteel a break. The ball from the kick came to MacLaine’s feet, he being partially uncovered. He turned away from his ‘cover’ and sent in a shot which beat Hamilton all the way. Apparently, the goalkeeper was prepared for something far different, as he made no move to clear, until it was too late. The wind had died down quite a lot. A free-kick against Butler near the corner flag looked bad for a time as the ball kept bobbing up and down in front of Sharp. The leather finally went out to Morton, who hit the screen behind the goal with a resounding thwack. Hamilton had an anxious couple of minutes. Chedgzoy got away from Buchanan, butting right in, and slipped the ball back to MacLaine, who was right in front of the goal. Only by a huge dive did Hamilton get there, pushing the ball away to McEachran, who shot over. Sharp was very busy just after that. The ball kept in front of Carsteel’s goal for some minutes., during which time a couple of corners were gained, but no scoring. Brown sent in a high lob, and Sharp came away out of his goal to secure the ball and throw clear. Though hard pressed the locals’ defence were giving a good amount of themselves. Rangers made another move, through McPhail and Smith, the latter going right in, and as Sharp came out of goal, slipped the ball under the goalie’s arm as he dropped. This was the last of the scoring, the count being then 5-2, and from this point to the end of the game the visitors let up a bit, being content with passing and not so much running, while attending to all moved by the locals. Carsteel did well but had nothing like the same number of chances as they had when against Kilmarnock, but there was a considerable difference in the opposition. Four internationals in the front rank, two in the halves, and both backs. Even Carstell can be excused when beaten by such an array of talent. Fleming, the regular centre-forward, played a whale of a game on the wing and when Archibald is injured in future Willie Struth will never be at a loss for a man. Young Smith, who deputised for Fleming in the middle, showed great promise, being quite young, but fast and tall. All eyes were on Alan Morton, who is reported as playing his last season. He was in trim, and that swerving run was great to watch, once it taking three Carstell men to dispossess him of the ball, and at that their third man kicked into the bleachers.
On a fast ground before 10,000 people Rangers fielded J Simpson in the right half-back berth with Jock Buchanan operating at the other end of the string. There were no fireworks in this match. Rather was it a pleasant Saturday afternoon’s game at football. The Scottish champions, giving a pretty exhibition, delighted everybody. Young Smith, collected three of the Rangers’ handful, George Brown got one goal, and Bob McPhail the other, McLean registered both Carstell points
