McCulloch 84
McKerral 86
Match Information
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Sgt R.E. Carruthers (The Army)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
To Hamilton Accies goes the honour of puncturing Rangers perfect Regional League record, and a everything considered, they wear it worthily. It was a triumph of grit and tenacity without the slightest suggestion of fluke. It says all the more for Acas that in the early stages Rangers struck a brilliant game and looked like working their will on the play. Acas defence came through this test with flying colours and fairly silenced their many critics. Meanwhile, Acas forwards, with quick thrusts kept giving Rangers other things to think about, and time and again came nearest to scoring. They certainly made the more likely openings, but McIntyre and Harrison were particularly poor opportunists. Rangers attack could find no loopholes at all, despite their admirable scheming at half-back and forward, and so the game developed into a tremendous tussle a thrill almost every minute as the teams attacked in turn. There was a paucity of shooting, however, but this stands to the credit of the close marking of the respective defences. It looked like remaining a goalless draw until six minutes from time when Acas scored twice in quick succession, giving Rangers no hope of recovery. McCulloch took the first with that splendid scoring head of his, rushing right into the spot to meet a cross from McKenzie. Dawson had likewise no chance with McKerralls close in second. Had Acas lost even a point, the blame would have been on the forwards; that they won, they owe most thanks to the defence. McKenzie and Kennedy were tireless wing half-backs. Accies had little of the polish of Rangers and the element of bustle was more evident in their play. At times there were bursts of petty temper, which the referee made appear more serious than they really were by his flair for lecturing. Its all in the game, brawn and brain for such is football. The whistler also made what might have been a very grave mistake in scoring off a goal by McCulloch midway in the second half, giving McKerrall offside when Gray was standing almost on the goal-line. In the last 12 minutes Rangers moved Thornton to centre but found Acas defence as impregnable as ever
