Waugh 5
Gibson 8
Leckie 43
Gibson 55
W Reid
A Bennett
Match Information
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: J Kilbride (Polmont)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
With their team shaping so well in their early matches, Hamilton folks would be pardoned the confident feeling which prevailed amongst them regarding the outcome of the Rangers’ visit to Douglas Park, and if the ultimate result came to them as a bit of a shock, they were, for a long period of the game, on very good terms with themselves; indeed at the interval there seemed quite reasonable grounds for the jubilation in the local camp, for at this stage the Academicals were a goal ahead, and seemed quite as likely to achieve further success as the ‘Light Blues.’ The early passages gave ample indication of the keenness of the struggle which was to follow; indeed, there were several mistakes made by players on both sides brought about through over-anxiety. The opening goal fell to the home team, and it was beautifully taken by Waugh from 20 yards. Lock was unsighted by Law, who completely missed the ball in attempting to hook it out. The cheers, however, had hardly died away when Davie fielded loosely and then miskicked, with the result that the ball was rushed to the Academical goal, and Gibson shot past Montgomery. Thus ended the thrills for some time, although each goal had narrow escapes, notably when Lock just stopped a miskick by Chapman from entering the net, and when Montgomery’s charge was saved through the intervention of the post when young Gibson’s fine shot had beaten the keeper. The interval has almost arrived, however, before Somers sent Leckie nicely away, and the amateur, after getting past Law, veered slightly to the right to clear Richmond, and completely beat Lock with a hard, low drive. The second half saw the ‘Light Blues’ gradually got the upper hand. Unlike the home players discarded all attempts at close passing, and opening out they gave the Academical backs a tremendous lot of running. With McLaughlin failing to last the pace, and Eglinton handicapped by a badly-bruised shoulder, the home middle line developed unexpected weakness. Bravely Davie and Brownlie stood up to the Rangers’ attack, and had the home right wing been able to finish on one occasion the ‘Light Blue’ might have found themselves in a tight corner. It was again the young Cronberry player who placed his side on equal footing, and within a few minutes Waugh attempted to get at a free kick placed by Richmond, with the result that he put the ball to Reid’s feet, and the Rangers’ centre obligingly drove it past Montgomery. Then did the banners of the Rangers’ brake clubs go aloft! The Academicals fought gamely, but Spiers twice blundered badly by sticking to the ball and attempting to beat Richmond instead of crossing; and Waugh was similarly at fault when a short pass would have given Leckie an open goal. Bennett made the issue certain by breaking clean away, and drawing out Montgomery, placing the ball quietly into the net. The Rangers won because they adopted the better tactics in the second half, although in a way the two-goal difference somewhat inflates their superiority. The failure of the home halves was in a great measure accountable for the triumph of the ‘Light Blues,’ although all over the local defence did not appear to play with their usual confidence. No fault could be found with Lock’s display in goal. Law was the better of the Rangers’ backs, kicking and tackling cleanly and cleverly. Richmond was well watched, but while he put plenty of power into his punting, he did not seen too safe at close quarters. In a hard-working middle line Hendry was outstanding. Chapman tackled well, but his placing was faulty. Galt was as energetic as ever. The forwards did not strike one as an ideal line, and there was a patchiness about their movements which must be eliminated. Alex Smith was the outstanding man in the line, the veteran’s work being of the best class. He was splendidly supported by Gibson, who promises to turn out a fine player. Reid was fairly successful, but the right wing did not impress. Bennett was very willing, but he was badly supported. The home forwards did not move with their usual freedom. Waugh did some smart things, but his work was not always profitable, and he might have made more use of Leckie, seeing Spiers could do nothing right. Well watched by Galt, Somers was not so much in evidence as usual, and Hastie in the second half especially, did not get very much of the ball. Eglinton was the best of the middle line, and played pluckily through the second half with a badly-bruised shoulder. McLaughlin was not himself by a long way, and Black was up against a stiff proposition in Smith and Gibson. Overworked in the second half, it was not surprising that the backs should falter. Up to a point both men did really well. Montgomery kept a good goal
