Sneddon
Fernie
Match Information
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: H Dickie (Glasgow)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
The ‘Light Blues’ almost invariably find the men of the ducal town the hottest of stuff at Douglas Park, and there was very evident satisfaction amongst their friends at coming out scathless from their latest visit. Frankly, however, I cannot write in flattering terms of the display of the Ibrox men; indeed, they were distinctly favoured by fortune in carrying off both points. The Hamilton team has not been blessed with much luck if late, and they were even more scurvily treated on Saturday. They were by no means the inferior team. In one particular, both sides failed badly – in shooting – and curiously enough, while they got the only goal of the game, the Rangers were the greater sinners in this direction. In the first half hardly a direct shot reached Craig, although Duncan provided the inside men with a number of tempting balls. The Academicals were a trifle more liberal in their employment of Hempsey, and the Ibrox goal had one or two narrow escapes, notably when the Greenock lad picked up a dangerous centre from young Wilson, and was almost charged through by Cameron and Kelly. All the same a goalless first half seemed to please both sides. Rangers gave us a glimpse of the real Ibrox ‘goods’ during the first few minutes of the second half, but it was not sustained. It sufficed, however,, to provide the all-important goal – a simple-looking affair. Scott Duncan went down from Bowie’s pass and forced a corner off Paterson. The flag-kick was well placed, but Craig seemed to have cleared the danger. The ball, however, went out direct to Sneddon, and the Armadale youth lifted it quietly goal wards. It did not seem a scorer, but Craig – possibly a trifle surprised and mayhap blinded by the bright sun – failed to get the ball and it went in just below the bar. There were plenty of hot exchanges in the closing half hour, during which the Academicals were almost continuously aggressive. But Hempsey was in top-notch form, and, if some of their clearance savoured of the ‘any port in a storm’ order, Muir and Manderson opposed the home men’s advances with resolution. Gordon from a breakaway almost snatched a second goal, and ten minutes from the end Wilson was only robbed of the equaliser by a fine second-attempt save on the part of Hempsey. Hereabouts the Academicals deserved success, but always would a Ranger intervene, while one or two openings were allowed to pass. And then the end came! While shooting power was lacking on both sides, it must not be inferred that the game was a poor one; indeed, it was just as keen a contest as has been seen on the ground for some time, and a wonderfully fast pace was maintained throughout. There was obviously something awanting in the winners’ advanced line. Lister has a lot to learn of the moves of the men on either side of him. He was rather uncertain, and his dashes seemed easily checked. Bowie and Cairns were fairly successful, but while Duncan responded well to the support accorded him, Branscombe was but a shadow of himself. Gordon was the pick of the Ibrox middle men even although he was going very ‘dicky; near the end. Pursell got through a lot of useful stopping, and he used his head with considerable effect. One likes to see a newcomer make some success, and I should say that the new Ibrox half, Sneddon did so. The dapper Armadale youth tackled well, and he showed that he knew what to do with the ball when he got it. Manderson was the safer of the Rangers’ backs, but both men kicked powerfully. Hempsey is a fine goalkeeper. The Academicals were just a little embittered over their unmerited defeat, but they had some credit for their plucky display. Fred Craig I condole with on the loss of such a soft goal; the big Plymouth player cleared splendidly on the few occasions he was tested. I thought some of the home backs were a trifle ahead of the Rangers’ pair. Adam Miller played splendidly, especially in the first half, while Robertson’s display, apart from a little slowness in recovery, showed no blemish. The home halfs came out of the game with credit. McNamee quite overshadowed the Rangers’ centre, and he forced the play well. Paterson’s stylish work caught the eye, while Purdie maintained his consistently good form. With the scoring chances which fell to them the Hamilton sharpshooters ought to have profited. I could hear the Douglas Park habitués regretting the enforced absence of James Stewart; The Dumbarton man is reckoned – and with reason – the crack shot of the side. Archie Kyle – as old Rangers generally do – served up his best game against his old friends, and he was playing desperately hard to save the match near the end. Kelly was hardly at his best in the centre; he seemed to have difficulty in making up his mind when put in possession. Cameron passed well but shot badly. Hanlon gave Muir plenty of trouble and he swept over some fine centres. Considering the strength of the opposition I put it that young Wilson gave distinct promise.
