Lambert 23
Dr Marshall 40
Match Information
Attendance: 46000
Referee:
Matchday: Wednesday
Match Trivia
British Championship - London has taken Rangers to its heart. A crowd of 40,000 gave them such a welcome as could not have been equalled had they been playing a Scottish cup-tie at Ibrox. In the crowd were hundreds of London Scots who had come to Highbury to give them all the encouragement they could, but the English folk precent excelled them in their appreciation of the play of the Scottish League champions. On all hands admiration was expressed for the play of the Rangers, who rode to the occasion in the most brilliant style and won a match contested from first to last in the keenest spirit. It was more like a cup-tie than a friendly game, and the crowd roared with excitement. At the finish, the spectators cheered the rangers off the field as if they had been an international side. If we could see matches like this every Saturday, wouldnt it be fine, said an Arsenal enthusiast, and that was the general feeling among the crowd. Rangers struck a blow for the prestige of Scottish football, and in proof of this I need only say that Mr George Allison, the Arsenal director, at the finish declared, Your team is good enough to meet England. I have seen nothing better. The fact is the Rangers players to a man rose grandly to the occasion. The defence was magnificent. Dawson could not possibly have saved the goal he lost, and his work generally was superb. The Arsenal forwards were vastly superior to the lot we saw at Ibrox, but the quick covering-up by the Rangers half-backs and backs completely foiled their skilful ground passing and attempts at a final thrust through the defence. Gray and McDonald, although often worried by Bastin and Birkett, hung on with resolution, and their headwork and clearing with both feet repeatedly took the team out of a tight corner. Meiklejohn and Brown were on the stretch all the time, but they played like men inspired, each with his sleeves up. Simpson had no easy task holding Lambert, a big strong, go-ahead centre, but he gave nothing away. The Ibrox forwards played some delightful football. They repeatedly worked the pass back to the half-backs, and their cohesion and shooting power was such that Moss came out the hero of the Arsenal team. In the second half, Smith, with a bruised toe, had to go to outside left and Fleming to centre, but the change did not weaken the Rangers attack, which, with any luck at all, would have added to the score. Fleming was a splendid driving force, both at outside-left and at centre, and Marshalls goal was a beauty, besides which he brought the line along in the most dashing style. McPhail did not scintillate as against Arsenal at Ibrox, but in the second half he came on with some characteristic thrusts, which caused Male and Hill no end of trouble. Smith, both at centre and at outside-left, was a difficult proposition for the Arsenal defence, and he was unlucky more than once with his shots. The Arsenal played 50 per cent better than at Ibrox, but they were beaten by the superb Rangers defence. Moss was a great goalkeeper, and Hapgood as good as he was at Ibrox. All the half-backs defended well, and forced the play whenever opportunity offered, but the line was weakened in the last ten minutes, when Roberts had to go off with an injured ankle. Some fine, swinging football was played by the forwards. James worked well in front, and was a great asset in attack, but at times he held the ball too long. I thought Bastin the finest winger on the field fast, clever in control, and the best shot in the line. Birkett, a young boy who was brought in at the last moment, shaped well, and is likely to take possession of the outside-right position until Hulme is fit. Lambert took his goal well and had another disallowed which I thought a good one. He is a big, strong fellow, who goes through like a battering-ram, but Simpson had him well marked. It was a match which was worth going hundreds of miles to see. Everybody said so. The pace was tremendously fast, and the thrilling escapes of both goals kept the crowd on edge. After twenty-five minutes, James pushed the ball through to Lambert, who ran clear of the Ibrox backs. Dawson came out, but Lambert very cleverly lofted the ball away from him into the net. From end to end the play swung in exciting fashion. The crowd roared with excitement as each goal in turn escaped by a hairbreadth. With only three minutes of the first half to go, Brown ran right through the Arsenal defence, and pushed the ball into the centre. Marshall, who had been following up, took it in his stride, and his shot left Moss helpless, although he made a valiant effort to get it. The cheer that went up when the ball hit the back of the net would have suggested a cup final winning goal. English and Scots cheered alike. Before the interval, Smith with a bruised toe, had gone to outside left, and Fleming to centre. The second half had gone one minute when Rangers were in the lead. Archibald forced a corner, placed it beautifully, and Fleming headed into the net. Rangers never looked like losing after that. The arsenal forwards made a supreme effort, and Dawson and his backs had to exert themselves, but the Rangers third goal as good as settled the issue. Smith worked the opening for Fleming and cutting through past Male from an inside left position, Fleming shot low and hard, and Moss was beaten all ends up. There were many exciting incidents after that, for the Arsenal forwards came on in great style, and Dawson saved brilliantly from Lambert and Bastin, but the end found Rangers victorious in a memorable match. As the teams came off the field the crowd cheered to the echo. On all hands, the match was declared one of the best ever seen in London. Mr Wreford Brown, the old Corinthian centre-half, said he would not have missed it fore worlds. Mr Pilsen, the Norwich City chairman, said the same. At the finish, the Rangers players were tired but happy. I think, said Captain Meiklejohn, we have done a spit of good for Scottish football. It was hard work, bit it was worth it.
