Thomson 23
Dr Marshall 28
Match Information
Attendance: 21,000
Referee: T Small (Dundee)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Rangers collected two points, but they could not have complained had Aberdeen retained one of them. That the Pittodrie eleven were beaten is due to one factor they were up against a team that refused to be shaken by tactics that reminded one of a bull rushing at a gate. Aberdeen in their rushing were equally as senseless as the bovine one. The first half finished with the scores one all. That was a fair reflex of the play. Twenty-three minutes from the start, Dawson was beaten by as glorious a shot as anyone would like to see. A free kick was awarded to Aberdeen 35 yards out. Thomson took it, and nobody saw the drive until the ball was rebounding from the iron stanchion at the back of the net. The crowd for a second was struck dumb, then there came a roar that must have disturbed the birds at Balmoral. It seemed almost incredible that the ball, from so far out, could get past a Rangers defence lined up in proper formation, and beat one who is recognised as a first-class goalkeeper. But there it was. That goal put enthusiasm into the hearts and feet of Aberdeen, but five minutes later their enthusiasm was damped somewhat. Fraser, at midfield, dallied with the ball, and allowed Nicholson to take it from him. The winger tapped to Venters, who carried the ball on twenty yards before squaring to Marshall. The inside-right got possession just on the penalty line, took three or four steps with the ball, and banged it into the net. The game after that went see-saw, first one side, then the other, making headway. Hard enough, but not too skilful. And now we come to the second half. For a period, it was a mixture of spoiling, strong first-time tackling, and bad temper, with a little skilful football thrown in. Ten minutes had gone when Rangers were given a penalty. The award was correct, but McGill mist be considered a very foolish young man. There was no need for him to bring down Main. The Rangers right-winger was in no danger of scoring, while the Aberdeen goal was substantially covered. Smith took the kick, and with a low shot, got the ball into the net, just inside his namesakes right hand post. Aberdeen for a short spell played like a team in the dumps, but they were wakened up by loud shouts from the terracing, and for 25 minutes Rangers were fighting to hold on to their lead. It was then that Aberdeen were like a bull at a gate. They threw themselves at the Rangers defence, trying to smash it down by employing all their strength. Rangers packed their goal. Their half-backs fell back so that they were almost on top of Gray and McDonald (but always in the correct position), while the inside forwards also gave a helping hand, what time Smith was a lone figure, waiting his chance at any loose ball that might escape the sieve. Moore, Mills and Warnock time about made repeated efforts with headers and shots to find a place in the rigging for the ball, but every attempt was blocked, went over the bar wide of the posts, or was saved by Dawson. The goalkeeper, however, was thrice very fortunate. He once mis-punched a ball, once misjudged the flight of the leather, and on another occasion hustled Simpson so that the centre-half made a blunder with a header. The ball went the wrong way and dropped on top of the cross-bar of an untenanted goal. I have a vivid recollection too, of Gray heading out from under the bar when Dawson was well beaten. It looked very much odds on Aberdeen scoring, but the expected goal never came. Indeed, Rangers nearly increased their lead near the end, Main, Smith and Nicholson having near things. Nicholson got a clear field on the right. The home goalkeeper ran out to intercept him. The winger lobbed the ball over his head, and it looked a good thing to count, but Falloon got there in time and by an acrobatic feat succeeded in heading the ball clear. There is no need to go through the Rangers team individually, but I presume Ibrox supporters which to know how Venters performed. I liked him. It was not a game in which forwards got much chance to shine, but he produced many skilful and intelligent touches, and in him Rangers have a grand understudy to McPhail. Marshall was the grafter in the forwards line, and he put great power into his work. Both wingers were pleasing. Smith was out of it a lot, and he will find that crowds on foreign soil will not make allowances for the exuberance of youth. Aberdeen were not a dependable team. Smith in goal was all right, but Cooper and McGill were frequently out in their judgment and gave the impression of being too easily disturbed when subjected to pressure. The wing half-backs, in this game at least, were too often caught out of position. Falloon had to desert Smith to dash to either side when his team were on the defensive. In attack, however, the whole line was effective, keeping contact with the forwards and giving them plenty of judiciously placed transfers. In the forward line, Moore struck me as not being as virile as on other occasions on which I have seen him. He was too fond of sticking in the one quarter. Beynon was the better of the two wingers. Love is showing signs of wear and tear. His best days are over. Of the inside men, Mills was the superior. This young lad is good stuff and appeals to me as progressing in the right way. Warnock was always busy but was guilty of failing too frequently at the critical moment. He give the impression of not keeping strictly to the place. It was a good hard game, although there were times when more than one player showed signs of temper. I wonder if this veto on players appealing to the referee is a good thing. To me it always appeared as if a players feeling were appeased by talkee-talkee with the referee. In this game, it was obvious that some of them stored up their temper until the next time, although Fraser found a way to calm himself by banging the ball into touch when he through the referees decision was not the proper one. But it didnt look well
