W Reid 5
R Walker 10
W Reid <45
W Reid >45, xx
Match Information
Attendance: 11,500
Referee: unknown - to be confirmed
Matchday: Monday
Match Trivia
The match at Tynecastle provided an object lesson in the paying and unprofitable styles of football. Up to a certain point it could not be said that there was such a margin between the teams as the goals would suggest. The Rangers played an open attractive game, indulging in long, swinging passes and making ground as rapidly as possible, while the Hearts kept the game closer. The Rangers’ style paid better, and in the end they won easily. Reid had a day out, securing all the goals for his side. Only in one case could the goal be said to be as soft one, and two of the shots were as fine as one could wish to see. Mercer, perhaps allowed him rather much latitude, but the centre made full use of his chances. The Hearts up to one point, made an excellent fight of it, but they were dead out of luck, and were too weak in finishing to do anything in the way of scoring. The game, till near the end, was fast and was always full of excitement, the Rangers showing a superiority that was perhaps over-emphasised by the score. The first phase of the game was not a happy one for Tynecastle. From the kick-off the Rangers, who had the sun at their backs, went into the game spiritedly, and only a few minutes had passed when Alex Smith had a scamper down the wing and a fast shot that just got the wrong side of the post. That was only a foretaste. The Rangers were neither to hold nor bind for a while, and the Hearts had to play a very second fiddle. At length Reid slipped through on his own and beat Robertson with a fine shot. Then the Hearts came more into the game, one or two moves on the right making ground, while the defence began to get a better grip of the Rangers’ forwards. The home attack was up against a splendid defence, and there was not much in the way of shooting till Harker and Sinclair had unsuccessful tries. Clever work by Dick Harker and Sanderson ended in the former crossing sharply, and ‘Bobby’ Walker headed a fine goal. Though the Hearts had done better, they were still a little behind the Rangers on play, but they put in a little pressure to balance the account. Nothing came of it, though the Hearts’ right wing were difficult to shake off. Bennett was doing splendidly and he varied his passes to his partner with well–judged crosses to Hogg, and the right-winger, taking one of these chances, crossed a fine ball to Reid. The centre sent softly against the post, but got the ball on the rebound and scored. Smith got in one of his rare runs – Collins was holding up as a rule – and his shot again just outside. In the matter of shooting Rangers, who were always ready to let drive on the chance. Held a distinct lead, but the Hearts had come more into the game, and the best chance of the game was lost when Sinclair sent the ball outside. At the commencement of the second half it looked as if the Hearts were coming into the game to a greater extent, but there was nothing about their work at close quarters that suggested danger. The thoughtfulness of the Rangers’ attack was lacking. All the same, they had the best of the outfield play and the visitors’ third score was both lucky and undeserved. Reid was again the scorer. Then a spell of Hearts’ superiority set in, but still the close work was uncertain. Buchanan had one long shot, and Sanderson made ground and sent in a couple of fine centres, but Lock was quite fit for any work that came his way. There seemed to be still time for the Hearts to draw level, but another of Reid’s snapshots settled the matter. Bennett gave him the ball, and without waiting the centre drove in a shot that gave Robertson no chance whatever. That was really the end of the game, although the teams were on view, of course, for the statutory period. The Hearts were, and looked a well-beaten team, chiefly desiring the concluding whistle. All the fight went out of them with the fourth goal, and as a finish the Rangers might be said to have won as they liked. The Rangers found more effective game forward, being more inclined to keep the ball swinging with wide passes and give the outside men a chance. In consequence, with Hogg and Smith as the as the operators, some fine centres came from both extremes. Hogg was the more prominent, but he was up against the weaker side of the defence, and took full advantage of that fact. There was, however, no more effective forward than Bennett, whose conception of the inside game was admirable. His long passes to Hogg were a disconcerting feature to the defence. Reid was enterprising, and converted as surprising proportion of possible chances, and Gordon was a keen worker all through. Hendry was the pick of the halves, though he had a strong wing against him, but Chapman also played a strong game, and Galt, who drew on himself the disfavour of a section of the crowd, also played well. The backs and Lock gave nothing away whatever. All over the team was sound, and one could not locate a weak spot. It was otherwise on the Hearts’ eleven. The forwards never struck a paying game at all, the ball being kept in the centre. The wingers did not see much of the ball, and the Hearts found that their close play did not affect the opposing defence as it should. Walker worked hard, and gave a splendid lead, and Sinclair showed up well at times. Buchanan was well held, and never got off his mark at all while Harker’s occasional cleverness was not too productive. Sanderson did not come much into the game, but some of his work was admirably done. The defence had its weak points. Robertson might have saved one of the goals, and Rod Walker, I though kicking well, did not tackle so strongly. Collins again played a great game, and McLaren and Gilmour were fair to moderate, but Mercer, who was hurt at one point, was weak, and gave Reid far too much scope
