S Archibald 40
Reid 46
Match Information
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: P Craigmyle (Aberdeen)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Right away let me say it was a good draw to a hard-fought game. The biggest misfortune of the game was Rovers’, McColgan netted Rangers’ goal. On the other hand, Robb might have saved Reid’s shot that counted. The keeper got down to it all right, but he was fishing for it all the time, and only got proper control when it was at least a yard over the line and a goal had been granted. All over the piece, however, it was a case of six of one and half a dozen of the other. Each side had chances. Each side missed them. East side had narrow squeaks. And we got our money’s worth in the second half right to the last kick. And that last kick very nearly took Rangers into the second round. Britton tipped a raker over the bar for a corner which was never taken. Time was up. The Rovers’ reserves goalkeeper was never bettered by Jimmy Brownlie at his best. Everything Britton did was masterly; one save in particular from Henderson being magnificent. If anything, I thought Penman the better back and I was sorry for McColgan in giving away that goal. Alan Morton wormed his way well into the goal and attempted to centre, I think. McColgan shot out his foot. The ball shot into the net. Britton looked like getting it, too, if it hadn’t been deflected. Hard luck! But the dominating figure on the Rovers’ side was McSkimming, who wasn’t bettered on the field. He was great with his head. Walls began well but tapered a bit, then came away strong towards the end, while Greenshields kept on improving all the time. The forward as a combination never hit it too well, but they were triers all. The same might be said of the Rangers’ forward. Both Archibald and Morton started well, but Alan faded away in the second half, and only near the close did we saw something of the real Archibald. Dixon was the No 1 half. Meiklejohn did a lot of useful work, but Muirhead was generally too far away from home. Both backs have played better, and as I say, I think Robb might have kept a clean sheet, although there was sting in Reid’s shot. The game? It began quietly, rather raggedly for a bit. There was no wind, but the ground was a bit hard, and the ball bumped fancifully at times. Early on Reid got a chance from Walls. With Dixon on him he let out but missed his kick entirely. Robb and Britton both fisted away corners. Odd throw-ins and bye-kicks were followed by an exciting moment or two in front of Robb’s goal. Cairns tried his luck with a shot that was blocked, and Archibald put behind. Then Britton brought off his great save from Henderson, after Reid had sent over. Ribchester had a couple of tries, Manderson etting rid of the second one near the goal-line. So, the game went for thirty-nine minutes at the end of which Rangers their goal in the manner I’ve told you. The second half was exactly twenty-eight seconds old when Reid, getting the ball from McSkimming, scored Rovers’ goal. The fat was in the fire now, and the teams went at it hammer and tongs. Britton had more to do than Robb in the way of actual saving, but Robers were just as dangerous, except in the last minute. I’ve told you what happened then. Yes, it was a good draw. I fancy Rovers have missed their chance of playing in the next round. Still, history may repeat itself, but well, Rangers can play better than they did yesterday.
