Hogg 15
RC Hamilton
Lee <45
Match Information
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: R.T. Murray (Stenhousemuir)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
I wonder how many football captains would have elected, after winning the toss, to do as George Chapman did, and set his team to the task of playing uphill against a strongest breeze and glaring intermittent bursts of brilliant sunshine, in a cup tie of fateful importance at Dens Park. I asked Jack Fraser; of Dundee team, after the match was over, what course he would have followed in similar circumstances. “Wind and sun at our backs every time,” he replied. “You must never forget that players are fresh at the start and the wind takes a lot out of a defending side. Early goals beget confidence, and a lead at the interval means everything in a cup tie.” Probably the decision of the Rangers’ captain was taken ere the teams left the pavilion, for the circumstances cannot be overlooked that the Rangers this season proved a wonderful second half team. Braced by the sea breezes of Troon, where the ‘Light Blues’ trained for the cup, they probably believed their reserve strength would carry them through when the pinch was greatest and the call for extra energy was most needed. For once the Rangers found Dundee’s defence was not like unto some others, for when the second half began the Rangers let themselves go in the belief doubtless that with wind and sun at I wonder how many football captains would have elected, after winning the toss, to do as George Chapman did, and set his team to the task of playing uphill against a strongest breeze and glaring intermittent bursts of brilliant sunshine, in a cup tie of fateful importance at Dens Park. I asked Jack Fraser; of Dundee team, after the match was over, what course he would have followed in similar circumstances. “Wind and sun at our backs every time,” he replied. “You must never forget that players are fresh at the start and the wind takes a lot out of a defending side. Early goals beget confidence, and a lead at the interval means everything in a cup tie.” Probably the decision of the Rangers’ captain was taken ere the teams left the pavilion, for the circumstances cannot be overlooked that the Rangers this season proved a wonderful second half team. Braced by the sea breezes of Troon, where the ‘Light Blues’ trained for the cup, they probably believed their reserve strength would carry them through when the pinch was greatest and the call for extra energy was most needed. For once the Rangers found Dundee’s defence was not like unto some others, for when the second half began the Rangers let themselves go in the belief doubtless that with wind and sun at their backs and only a goal behind they would carry all before them, more especially as the Dundee players had attacked towards their favourite goal in the first half. Those opening minutes of the second half were the climax to the whole game. If Dundee had wavered then they were doomed, but they met the Rangers’ opening second half burst without flinching, and thanks to the courage and skill of Herbert Dainty, the resolute boldness of Comrie, and a change for the better in the play of Neal, the Cupholders held the Rangers’ forwards and beat them again as they returned to attack. Repeated failure to master those vigilant and aggressive Dundee half-backs irritated and disheartened the men of Ibrox, with the result that Dundee satisfied with their lead, contented themselves with playing a desperate upsetting game, regardless of where they sent the ball, so long as their lines were cleared. The result was that the last half-hour was a wild scramble, with the Rangers’ inside forwards vainly endeavouring to strike a combined game, and sent times after time by the Dundee half-backs, whose watchfulness increased as the game was spending its course. All the good play in the game was crowded into the first half, when the Rangers showed some of their brightest movements, and Dundee playing closer, and with the conditions referred to in their favour, had a shade the best of the play. Hamilton got the first chance to open the scoring when he broke clean through and had only Lock to beat, but he tramped on the ball and fell. After nineteen minutes’ play the ball was slipped out to Hogg, who shot at an angle. Crumley tried to save on the ground, but he was either taken by surprise or there was too much spin on the ball for it rolled over his shoulder into the net. A little later he retrieved himself by a save in almost similar circumstances from the same player. The play became more fiery and faster. Eleven minutes from the interval, following a free kick given against Campbell for charging Hamilton unfairly, Comrie shot against an upright, and the ball, deflected by a Rangers’ boot, went out to Fraser, who dropped a perfect centre at the foot of Hamilton, for that player to equalise amidst a wild scene of enthusiasm. Two and a half minutes later, from a well-taken corner by Bellamy, Lee headed the winning goal. The winners were the better side to the extent indicated by the score. If the game disappointed latterly, it was Cup football all over, and the issue frequently hung in the balance. So keen were the players that at periods of this strenuous struggle, we saw Bellamy rushing back to help the defence, and on the opposing his side, Bennett crossing over to help the opposite wing and McFarlane performing a similar duty on the other side. Backs were more zealous and more dependent on their halves than usual, and over all the picture left most vividly in the mind was that of the covering-up tactics of both sides. Reid was held and shadowed throughout by Dainty, who emerged the best man in the field. Only once did the Ranger get in his shot, so closely was he pressed. With the ‘king’ of the centre, and the attention given to Bennett and Bowie, the Ibrox attack was seldom dangerous. Smith played an excellent game in the first half, but he was out of it latterly. The losers’ defence did well, and Lock, Campbell, Hendry and Gordon best of all. The latter work hard to get in a drive at goal, and largely was the most dangerous in attack. Hendry had one grand shot from the touch-line which Crumley held. Lock saved well when he as tested early on, and was blameless for the loss of the tie. Most Crumley’s work in the second half was free kicking. On the winning side chief honours lay with the defence, for the forwards seldom got time to settle. Lindsay proved safe and reliable and shared full backs honours with Campbell. The halves were all good, with Dainty outstanding. Hamilton proved a good leader for Dundee in attack and his judgment and robustness were a revelation to the thousands of Glasgow people to witness his success against his old club mates. He was always dangerous in the open, and Chapman had a task watching him. McFarlane controlled the ball well and had one great shot; with Bellamy was tricky, and probably showed in his actions more coolness that any other player.
