Duncan
W Reid
Match Information
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: T Robertson (Glasgow)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Broomfield Park, Airdrie housed its largest crowd of the season on Saturday, and the reason is not difficult to find. It was not any pretentions to greatness on the part of the Rangers, but rather the fact that no matter how Rangers may be playing, they always have to beware of Broomfield. On this occasion Rangers were remarkably lucky to get both points. They might as easily have lost both with little to say in complaint. The first half was evenly contested, neither side dazzling the sight either with fast or accurate play. Here and there Duncan was a terror for Airdrie, and now and again Paterson and Donaldson made excursions round Kelso. On the other hand, Willie Reid in his one easy chance to prove a specialist at the snap-shot business, could hardly have skied the ball higher over the goal had he tried. There was plenty of ‘go’ in the game, but it was punctuated with so many failure that the whole could only be termed moderate. Templeman got a good share of the ball, but persisted in wide dribbling, trusting to round Brown or Craig by his speed, but it did not come off. On the other wing Paterson would cling to the ball till all the Rangers’ defenders were fortified round Lock, who up till the interval had only one crucial experience. Nearing half-time Cairns and Paterson came more into the game, and it was off their work that the first goal was recorded. Brown saved the initial, stinging shot, after eluding Reid; he threw the ball to his left, and gave Duncan a nice opportunity, which he was not slow to seize. It was somewhat of a gift goal, but up to the interval the Rangers were about value for their lead. They looked like getting more on resuming. As a matter of fact, the Rangers; left manoeuvred things so well that a deadly cross by Paterson got right through the defence, and W Reid was left with the simplest thing he clapped eyes on. With the ball at his toe and a vacant goal not six yards before him, a second score was as good as counted, but the centre shot wide. It was after this that Airdrieonians gave their best display. For half an hour they practically held the Rangers in their own half, but the equaliser was long in coming. They were too eager. Templeman was the leader, and cross after cross went from that player’s foot before Donaldson snapped one past Lock. A minute later, Paterson should have repeated the performance, also off Templeton. Then Thomson missed an open chance badly; and Murphy’s raking shot scudded past by mere inches, while a header off a corner beat Lock but came back from the far upright. Here and there the Rangers, who were handicapped by an accident to Duncan, made sorties, but with little success, and it appeared as though the Airdrieonians were bound to win, but Lock, Kelso and Gordon were great in defence at this period, and held off disaster till time was all but up. Airdrie’s luck had deserted them, despite favourable and persistent wooing, and the fickle jade smiled on the Rangers in the last minute of the game, when W Reid snatched the winning goal. Tearing in he got mixed with Murphy, Gane and the ball, and literally scrambling through to score. It was practically the last kick. In taking away both points the Rangers were lucky. Indeed, early on Kelso was not at home, but the longer he played the better he became. The opposite applies to Craig, who was latterly almost completely mastered by Templeman and Thomson. The middle line, and Lock, redeemed the Rangers, Gordon being the lion of a good half-back trio. The front rank left a lot to be desired. They were in three sections – two wings and a centre with little or no connection. The fact of the wings going on their own no doubt had something to do with Reid’s lack of prominence. Airdrieonians had the virtue – they rose from the depression caused by the first goal lost to be the better side. If they erred in the latter half it was in their too eager desire to win. James Reid only once got half a chance, and then his boot lifted some of the turf with the ball. But always he was a leader, and joined with his wings to fine effect. Templeman and Donaldson were latterly the life of their attack, and I would commend the former to his method of crossing in the game, which was first class. Miller continues to improve, and strengthen his position as one of our best half-backs. Indeed, Airdrie might well be satisfied with their middle line, as few could hold Reid as did Murphy. Rafferty dallied too long. Both backs proved their worth. Mackie excelled himself, and is still one of the safest after all his years of play. Brown did not appear comfortable. The game was always interesting, but never brilliant except at that period when Airdrieonians held Rangers tightly. A vestige of luck at that period would have carried them to victory
