Fleming 17, 25
Fleming
S Archibald
Match Information
Attendance: 5,500
Referee: T Small (Dundee)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
A contest for a quarter of an hour. In that period, one admired the stout-hearted work of the ‘Shire boys. They set off with a fine swing, forced a corner in the first minute, and tested Yuill with a deceptive shot, but they never really looked like scoring, never mind winning. The controlling hand lay with the Rangers’ half-backs, whose strong tacking and quick purveying gave the First Leaguers an immense advantage. Craig was especially effective, and it was the outcome of a fine piece of dribbling and a pass up the middle that the opening goal came after 17 minutes. Fleming fastened on and went through to give McGregor no chance. After that the ground – which was more like a swimming pool – and the torrential rain gave the Rangers little cause for concern. Morton and Archibald – the outside right in particular – swept past the opposition in bewildering style, and eight minutes later Fleming swept an Archibald pass into the net. This second success followed a regular bombardment of the home goal, during which McPhail (twice) and Archibald had lightning drives turned aside. Up to the interval there was no sign if the ‘Shire team cracking up. They had certainly been playing second fiddle, but with a vigorous elbow, and once they got on the run their snappy passing enabled them to make quick progress. Their defenders were endowed with heaps of courage, end even though they had to turn round at the interval two goals down, and with the wind and rain to face in the second half, their supporters did not despair. But their hopes were early dashed. In the fourth minute, after changing ends, Alan Morton was brought down in the penalty area, McPhail converted the spot kick. This was the beginning of the end. Henceforth there was but one team in the game, and that was very much the Rangers. Archibald was irrepressible. Sandy waded through the pools of water as if accustomed to such conditions, and Cunningham saw to it that he was well supplied with the ball. McPhail and Morton also kept the play going sweetly, and Fleming was always in position. A Morton cross enabled Archibald to bang on the fourth goal. Cunningham got the fifth with a low lightning drive, and Fleming the sixth after breaking through the defence. The concluding stages were farcical. Morton – the only Ranger not to find the net – was given chance after chance, but whether by design or otherwise Alan could not locate the goal. Considering the awful conditions, the standard of play maintained by the Ibrox fellows was wonderful, and kept the crowd interested to the end. Only a defensive force were the ‘Shire to be seriously reckoned, and McGregor and his backs are to be congratulated on their heroic work. Calder was the best of the half-backs, and Kilcar the most effective forward. Little need be said about the rangers. They are a solid company, and Yuill, although not often brought into action impressed by his confident handling of the ball
