T Cairns
Muirhead
Match Information
Attendance: 22,000
Referee: W. Bell (Hamilton)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
The game at Cliftonhill was perhaps al, right for the Rangers, but from our point of view it was most unsatisfactory – all wrong, I might say. When Rangers scored their second goa, both Archibald and Meiklejohn were offside. Of that I haven’t the least shadow of doubt. I do not think I have ever seen a better goal that that of Reid’s in the first half. I don’t think we would be playing more that five minutes when Alec Bennett’s cross was slashed home. It flashed like a rocket off Willie’s right foot. High up it whished past Robb, who hadn’t an earthly. Then the Rangers’ equaliser, which Cairns got at the end of the first quarter, was a bit rough on us. The ball ought to have been cleared after it struck Gordon Kerr’s right-hand upright, but Tommy made the most of the chance given him. I didn’t grudge him his success, but I am certain had we not lost this point we would have won. It was a right hard game, and the Rangers were lucky to win. Why Willie Reid’s goal should have been worth ten of Muirhead’s, and as I hold that Gordon Kerr was only beaten once legitimately, you can put it this way if you like (as a matter of fun) – we should have won by 20 to 1. No, the Rangers didn’t play like champions. If they had, I wouldn’t say that our, by comparison, modest team were value for a point. I can’t tell you whether or not Ron is a great goalkeeper – he was never tested. But I am not throwing bouquets at the Ibrox back pair. Manderson is the better of the two Irishman, McCandless over does the icicle stunt for my taste. It takes a man with the ability of a McNair to carry this out successfully, and – well, Belfast Billy is not an Alec – yet. Arthur Dixon got through his usual afternoon of heavy work, and ‘Fister’ Walls was the sticker I have always known him to be. But the best half-back of the Ibrox bunch – on the field perhaps – was undoubtedly Meiklejohn. This young fellow, who knows the game from A to Z, will go far if I am not very much mistaken. Forward, the line was not the class I was led to believe it was. Andy Cunningham and Tommy Muirhead were too often out of position. You know what I mean – the one was far too often where the other should have been. There was not the understanding one would expect from such a line of stars. Alec Archibald is a powerful and dangerous right-winger; still, I think, and am glad, that he did not make the most of his opportunities. He should have scored once at least in the fist half. Morton, while clever, was not quite the real Alan; but I don’t need to tell you that a player or a team can only play as well as the opposition will allow it. About ours! Gordon Kerr was very safe. He had no chance with either goal. Our backs were steady. Indeed, I think that Penman and ‘Old Bob’ were more so than usual. For what I consider a sufficient reason I prefer not to touch on our halfs; but this I will say, we had the best wind on the field – on the right. Isn’t John White a great forward, and weren’t Alec Bennett’s crosses Grand? Young Jamie White did quite well just what he was told to do; the game wasn’t open enough for Willie Reid, and Hillhouse did all right. You may think our outside-left should have put us two ahead in the fist half, and thus jiggered the Rangers, but you chance wasn’t such as easy one as you think. The angle was a right bad one
