Match ended 0-0
Match Information
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: A Scott (Mossend)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Relegation sounds a less terrible word this morning down Bridgeton way. The point that Rangers left behind them at Shawfield may make all the difference to the Clyde’s immediate future. To the Rangers the point is quite sufficient to keep their position at the top more secure than ever. And so, it was quite a merry party at the Clyde ground; everybody was more or less pleased – both at the result and the game. Victory to either side yesterday would have been just a little hard on the losers. A draw was absolutely the best result there could have been. There were many missed chances though, and in this respect the Rangers’ forwards were the greater sinners. Not a single forward on either side looked a potential scorer during the whole 90 minutes. I doubt if Fraser or Hamilton ever found the shots that came their way so easy to clear. Fraser had probably less to do. The direst shots that he had to deal with could be counted on the fingers. Hamilton, when Rangers were playing against the wind, had some long shots to deal with, but he would have been a poor goalkeeper had any of the ball passed him. As it was, he was confidence itself. And so, it may be reasoned that neither lot of forwards were a success. They were not. This was due, I fancy, to the really strong play of the half-backs, which in both Rangers’ and Clyde’s case were the backbone of the team. Gibson was the outstanding man in the Clyde lot. He held Marshall in a grip of iron. But Stirling and Wallace were not far behind. It was well that Rangers were strong in the middle for the backs were not always too sure with their clearances. J Hamilton was prone to duff his punts when up against the breeze and did not always look confident. There was a lack of cohesion about either attack. Rangers started off well enough, Morton, McMillan and Marshall rising quite above the ordinary, but later on these faded out, and at the end it was Archibald who was the big noise in the Rangers’ front. Cunningham was rarely in the picture. Where, however, one and all failed was in front of goal. The Clyde forwards had their failings, too, but Hasson and Hood both knew where ethe goal lay, and the former had tow of the best shots of the game. I have said that neither side looked like scoring. Perhaps that should be amended. Near the close there were two mix-up at the Clyde goal. It just needed a tap to send the ball home. Over-eagerness of the Rangers probably saved the Clyde a point. Promotion and relegation made this a game that held the attention to the end. There was no slacking off; the game was hard and keen up to the last kick. This is how the play swung. Clyde won the toss and had the advantage of the breeze, and Malone forced a corner which Shaw’s head got rid of. Marshall was badly off-side in Rangers’ first raid, and spoiled Morton’s good effort. Rangers followed this up with other clever moves in the direction of Fraser, but Malone brought the Clyde back, but a foul relieved the pressure on the Rangers goal. Hood was given a chance when a Malone cross was headed out to his foot, but his shot was wide of the mark. After some fierce Rangers attacking Cunningham had a long try, which went over the bar, and then Clyde had another fruitless corner. Marshall and Morton combined in a clever move, and the wingers pretty cross got Archibald’s head, but the ball went safely into Fraser’s hands. A free kick to Clyde taken by Millar went hard for its objective and gave Hamilton something to do. Marshall, from a nice pass from McMillan shot narrowly past. Rangers, still on the attack, did very well up to a point, but they could not drive home an advantage. The best shot of the game so far as it had gone, came from Hasson, who made the most of the opportunity that occurred when Gray let the Clyde winger slip through, and Hamilton had to deal with a strong drive that was going for the corner of the net. The Clyde utilising the strong wind behind their backs, kept plunking long shots in at Hamilton, one from Wallace smacking the crossbar. This policy paid for towards the end of the half the game was contested mainly in the vicinity of the Rangers’ goal. Clyde set their faces to the breeze resolutely, and the Rangers had to defend until a free kick came their way. Muirhead shot into goal, Fraser palmed the ball on to Marshall’s head, and the centre wasn’t the only one who wondered why the ball hadn’t gone into the net. It sailed gently over the bar. Millar at the other end had a shot blocked by Shaw for a corner. Then Rangers came away again. Cunningham from a foul kick struck a defender and McMillan was far and wide with his try. Hasson got a big cheer for a bright shot which passed closely over the crossbar. A corner to Clyde was quickly followed by a corner to Rangers, but neither troubled the defences unduly. Stirling probably saved his side a lot of trouble when he pounced upon Morton as the latter was cutting in for a shot at Fraser. McMillan opened the way for More Rangers attacking, and Cunningham, with a shot that looked ‘on the job’ had it deflected for a corner. Archibald had a glorious run upfield, but when it came to the goal area, Gibson broke up the move. Marshall had a gilt-edged opportunity of putting the Rangers on the lead. With a clear field he had only Fraser to best, but he shot past. Two corners came Rangers’ way, and in two desperate melees in front of his goal, Fraser came out triumphant. It looked for the moment as if the Clyde had cracked, but no, they came back, and the nest moment Hamilton was on the alert for a shot from Malone. A free kick to Clyde was the last incident of a desperate struggle – keen and hard for the whole 90 minutes. Not all the players on view were successes, but what was not for want of working – twenty-two players were on the field, a like number went into the fray with their sleeves rolled up. Both goalkeepers, as I have said, were not pressed unduly, but there was noting to find fault with in what they did. Maguire and Hillhouse met all their calls, and as a pair were perhaps better than the Rangers two, although Gray was the best of the four. The young Aberdonian held Hasson very securely and rarely allowed one of the few men who could shoot any chances in that direction. In Clyde’s half-back line, I was impressed by Stirling. It is not long since he was a junior, and his short spell with Clyde has made him a very strong player. In front Malone often best the defence but did not make the most of his opportunities. It was different with Hasson. When he got away Rangers knew thar danger threatened. Millar, Hood and Ballantyne never rose to heights. Rangers front rank was inconsistent. Morton started not badly, but he fell away. McMillan, probably, did more than any other to keep the line moving. Marshall could not get over Gibson, and Cunningham was not the Cunningham of old. Archibald threatened to win the game in the closing stages with his long runs right up to the danger zone. He was Rangers’ beat forward in the second half
