T Cairns 30
A Morton 39
Match Information
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: D Calder (Rutherglen)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
In the early stages of a game which followed many nice speeches on the occasion of the inauguration of the reconstruction scheme of Ayr United’s fine new stand, I could not see the local team being defeated as they were. Rangers were hard put to it for a start, and when I say that I don’t mean to say that they were in any way inferior. But the Ayr forwards were as frequently aggressors as the Ibrox lot were, and I think the loss of a simple goal had a good del to do with the turning point of the game. Nut, with it all the Light Blues were really in grand form. Their left wing was magnificent, and if Alan Morton has played better in all his career than he has dome when I have seen him since the opening of the season, then it was when I was not present. He is simply wonderful just now, and there is no footballer that I know, with the exception of the partner he had in the Sheffield last Tuesday evening, who can make so much use of a football. And that, in a way while praising Patsy Gallagher, might appear as if I were detracting from the ability of Tom Cairns, who as captain of his team at the new Somerset Park, was not only a leader, but a schemer as well. He had much to do with the success of his partner on the touch-line. The Ayr team began well. They seemed to lose heart when matters were going against them, and I wonder if a few of them are not finding that a broader Somerset is not altogether to their advantage. That will remedy itself. Eleven as well as one have to get accustomed to new surroundings. We certainly saw a grand first half. The second half fizzled out. It was a pity in a way, because the Ayr people were out for a real gala day. Encouraged apparently by the speeches to which they had listened, the Ayr fellows went off with a bang. McCandless turned a ball nicely when presses by Kilpatrick. The first thrill came from Alan Morton, who went through to be beaten as he was about to shoot. But there was a heart-render just a minute after for the Ayr crowd. Meiklejohn set a movement going and when Archibald crossed a ball high, Henderson just missed with his head. To show that they were not to be easily beaten, the Ayr men came with a rattle, and Skinner was right on top of Robb when the latter had the ball headed back to him by Dixon. Rangers were fortunate to be allowed to go on, when offside ought to have stopped the game for the moment. So also, was Skinner when he was allowed to go through. Fine saving by Hughes kept the ‘Auld Toon’ intact. Twice he might have been beaten. Once he spreadeagled himself for and caught the ball near a post. Then he caught a high one – both beautiful saves. The Cairns-Morton wing was troublesome. The little fellow on the outside was well plied by Cairns, and he kept carrying the ball forward. The game had gone twenty-seven minutes when Rangers opened the scoring. A lovely cross from Archibald dropped just under the bar. Hughes ought to have cleared, but his first mistake led to disaster. Henderson popped up and his head did what was wanted. Seven minutes from the interval Rangers’ second goal came and what a beauty it was. Morton got a back heeler from Cairns, and he did the rest. He simply toyed with the others and with a right-foot drive had Hughes beaten all ends up. I wouldn’t like to tire you regarding the second half of the game. Rangers certainly were in the mood, but why the Ayr players gave in to them beats me. I like nothing better than to see a team fight an uphill battle, and it would have been fine if the Somerset boys had taken the bit in their teeth and gone out for victory. They didn’t Beaten by Morton Smith brought him down. The referee had no alternative. He pointed to the penalty spot and McCandless came along to place the ball in the net and give Rangers their third goal. That was not the last of the United troubles. Archibald went through to score a brilliant goal and mark you he had not been a great deal in the picture. The Ayr fellows never looked like scoring and when the rain came along most people wished that it was all over. I have already referred to certain men who played a big part in the game and in its result. Hughes was unfortunate in losing the first goal, for he had played well up to that point. He seemed to lose confidence afterwards, but I liked his goalkeeping, and it will be difficult to find one who can improve upon him unless Nisbet is called upon. Both Manderson and McCandless pleased me, but I was disappointed with our two internationals. Smith never got the length of discovering what Morton was going to do, and he made the initial mistake of hanging back instead of going in as is his wont. He played into Alan’s feet. McCloy was a little better, but not so good as I have seen him. Rangers had a pull at half-back, even if McLeod was as good as any. Dixon was grand when Ayr forwards were good, and Meiklejohn played like a master throughout. Kirkwood has a bit to come. Hogg and Stewart were beaten by clever forwards, who got the better of them after they had got on the lead. Cunningham and Archibald were overshadowed by the brilliance of the left wing, but the Fifer made his mark by scoring a grand goal and doing the leading-up work to the first. Henderson was splendid – just as I have always thought he has been. The Ibrox people will have to goa long way to find a better leader for their attack, and they may fare worse. Ayr’s forwards started well and faded. Cunningham was a champion for the first half-hour or so, and Kilpatrick did well then too. Later they were a poor lot, and at that I leave them. They can do better, I am sure.
