Dr Marshall pen
Fleming
Match Information
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: W Bell (Motherwell)
Matchday: Wednesday
Match Trivia
Ayr United made a right good stand for about ten minutes after the start, but then the Rangers forwards – have a look at them – got away with a swing, and by half-time, the points were safe for Ibrox. There was nothing better in the game than the left wing display of Craig, Marshall and Nicholson in the first half. It was as good as you could bee anywhere. The left wing pair reminded me of Stevenson and Morton on the inter-league match. Nicholson must surely have played his best game for Rangers. He was going on fearlessly, worked the ball beautifully, and had a share in all three goals. After 20 minutes Rangers scored from a penalty kick. Hepburn came out and dived to punch away a centre from Nicholson, just as Fleming was on the point of connecting. Brown was close up, and Hepburn got him on the thigh, and he fell in pain. From that point, Brown never was the same. Marshall hit the ball hard and true into the net. This was the first penalty kick Marshall has taken. From that point, Rangers played with rare harmony. The second goal came in the 40th minute. Nicholson rounded Yorke, Fleming ran into the inside-left position to get the pass, got it, and raced ahead for about ten yards, and then, with a terrific right-foot drive, shot into the net near Hepburn’s right-hand post. The goalkeeper made a great attempt to save. A minute later Nicholson again went along fast, centred the ball back to near the penalty line, and Brown, taking it on the drop, shot the third goal. Ayr had played the first half under a handicap. Murray was injured about 15 minutes after the start and went off the field ten minutes from the interval. When he resumed in the second half he played at outside left. The second half was a disappointment. There was too much temper – a stupid display of feeling, and knocks were going. Brown limping, changed to outside right ten minutes after the restart, but Rangers were always on top, although on two occasions the United might have scored – Tolland and Ferguson had each a chance. Ayr finished without Murray who did not get over his first half injury. It was not a good result for Ayr, but the match showed the strength of the Ibrox reserves. All down the left, Rangers played a delightful game up to the interval. Newry Hamilton was the best back on the field, although Gray was also a finished defender, except for his heading, which was sometimes too straight out. Tom Hamilton dealt smartly with several good shots in the first half. there was no one so good as Craig at half-back. McDonald placed the ball perfectly, and Muirhead and Brown got the benefit. Simpson, without having the polish, did useful work with his head. It was a fine Rangers forward line for half the game, and after that the throttle was shut down a bit. Brown and Muirhead made an excellent wing. It was brainy stuff they played as you might expect. Ayr were defective in positional tactics. The forwards and half-backs, McLeod excepted, were too much given to trapping the ball instead of taking it away on the run. It was easy to see that the opposition turned this defect to their profit. Hepburn saved grandly. He could not have saved any of the goals. I believe Roberson will make a right good back – or a good right back, if you like – but here he caught a Tartar in Nicholson. Fleming wrought hard but he had a terribly heavy job. McLeod has never played more heroically, but the half-back line as a whole, did not come into the game as a real aggressive force. The forwards could take nothing away from them. They could break away at times, but there was a lack of cohesion among them, and their positioning was not good
