McGovern <45
A Cunningham >45
Match Information
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: J.B. Stevenson (Motherwell)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Clydebank came within an ace of creating the sensation of the season. A goal by McGovern fifteen minutes after the start gave the Yoker boys a lead which they held on to like grim death until only a quarter of an hour remained to be played. Prior to Andrew Cunningham equalising goal I could see the handwriting on the wall. The lowly Leaguers noting visions of a triumph over the topnotchers, concentrated their efforts on keeping the other fellows out by hook or crook. The half-backs with the assistance of the inside wingers had dropped the policy of linking up with the men in front, and introduced in its place hard kicking, clear-at-any-price tactics. This, to my mind, was their undoing. The Rangers crowded on full sail; the front rank was now composed of eight forwards; the three middlemen having joined in the attack all striving strenuously to retain their unbeaten record. The pressure was bound to tell. Seven minutes after Cunningham’s success Tommy Cairns got his napper to a Morton corner-kick and Wallace was beaten all ends up. Thus were Clydebank beaten in a strenuous a struggle as I have seen for many moons. Over the piece Rangers were the more polished and constructive force as also were they more prolific shootists. Yet Clydebank are due a special pat on the back for the magnificent fight they put up against the all-conquering Light Blues. In a keen-as-mustard first half, the Clydebank right wingers were very much in the picture, and Billy McCandless has seldom been so often and so cleverly beaten as he was by Smith. Prior to finding the net McGovern had rattled Robb’s fingers with a teaser, while two minutes after the score, Smith found the rigging with an express grounder. The point, however, was nullified by an off-side decision – with which I didn’t agree. The spoiling tactics of the Yoker middlemen prevented the Rangers’ quintette from settling down to the pattern-weaving business, but they did nit hinder Henderson from making valiant efforts to locate the net. George was most unfortunate in his shooting – the majority of his efforts missing the mark by the narrowest margin. Cunningham also tried his hand or rather foot at the net, but with no better results. Wallace distinguished himself with a couple of great saves from volleys by Morton and Archibald. The Clydebank keeper was a busy man in the closing period. Twice he saved his charge from Henderson rakers at the expense of corner-kicks, while he dealt with many other shots in convincing style. In the closing minutes the Yokerites made a desperate effort to save a point. A regular melee – like a rugby scrum – took place in front of Robb and it looked as if the ball might find the net. Luck, however, favoured the defenders. Murphy was the safer Clydebank back, while Scraggs was the pick of a half-back trio which was latterly run off its feet. Smith and McGovern were the intellectuals in front, with Anderson the forager-in-chief. Joe’s restless rushing methods did not appeal to the Ibrox partisan, but they certainly had a demoralising influence on the Rangers’ backs, who have often been seen to better advantage. The rangers’ middlemen were immeasurably superior to the opposing trio, with Muirhead slightly superior to the other two. Henderson and Cunningham and Archibald excelled in front. Cairns and Morton were little seen in the game.
