Dr Marshall 30
Neil 33
Fleming
Weldon
Match Information
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: P Craigmyle (Aberdeen)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
George McQueen, Airdrie’s left back, was in luck’s way when he got the home club’s share of the Rangers League game for his benefit yesterday. There were 19,000 presents, and the lot got their money’s worth. Injuries to Morton and Dixon may have weakened Rangers as an attacking force, but the inclusion of Meiklejohn in their middle line was a complete success. Davie and Dougie Gray were stars in the Rangers’ defence. Bob Bennie was on view for Airdrie for the first time since he was injured in a club trial game. The first goal fell to Rangers and a lucky one it was. Fleming, meaning to centre, landed the ball at the corner of the cross-bar, from whence it rebounded into play, for Marshall to tap into an open goal. – rough luck on Ewart, who was deceived by the ball coming back into play. Neil’s equaliser was just as tantalising to Hamilton, who had his hand on the long, dropping ball, but was under the bar when he clutched. A goal each at the interval did not slatter Airdrie, who up to that period had has slightly the better of matters as an attacking force. It was in the second half that Rangers gave of their best. But so did Ewart. Cunningham, with his right and left, doubled up the Airdrie keeper, but I may say here that ‘Jock’ has probably never played better than in this game, and the honour of dividing the spoils is largely due to his hawk eye, his great daring. It was a fight of fits and starts, and after the Rangers’ best spell, Airdrieonians came again to get on the lead. That I attribute largely Weldon, who prepared the way for Murdoch to centre and young Main to head past Hamilton. After a wonderful save of about the best shot of the game from Fleming, Cairns equalised from the subsequent corner, and Fleming himself got the lead by heading home a Craig cross. It looked all up for Airdrie then, but ‘Tony’ Weldon did the trick out of a scrimmage, and a just result was arrived at – 3 goals each. Although Hamilton stopped a few slick ones in the first half, his work, in comparison with Ewart’s, was not convincing. He had the necessary courage, but on three occasions failed to hold the ball, and might have let his side down badly. Gray was fine and in conjunction with Craig, spoiled Airdrie’s usually more effective wing. Meiklejohn, I have already referred to, and these is little wonder that Andrew Main, the Bridgeton Waverly lad, had not a happy time. I liked the Rangers’ left wing best. If Timmy Cairns is slowing down – well, an old dog for a hard road – he certainly made Fleming a better wing than was Archibald on the day’s play. Big Andy Cunningham was the big, strong, hard-hitting boy of past years. He and Fleming were the men that Ewart had reason to fear. With a less able man than Ewart in goal, the Airdrieonians would probably have lost. ‘Great’ is all that need to be said of Jock’s share in the draw. McQueen was the better Airdrie back. Bennie hardly reached his last season’s form but was too smart for Archibald. Willie Neil’s anticipation and placing were not surpassed by any of the twenty-two, and McDougall vied with Meiklejohn for centre-half honours. The Broomfield forward line is not yet complete. They are still looking for a Gallacher, and after Hughie, they are hard to please. Main was at least a shade more in the game than his vis-à-vis, Marshall. Weldon was Airdrie’s star man forward. He was a grand, untiring player, of whom much more will be heard. I have seen countless games in which there was more clever football, but there was sufficient to keep the crowd on edge till the last minute. A goal up for Rangers would probably not have been cavilled at by Airdrieonians but a three goal- draw was, in my opinion, a good result.
