Cunningham 12
S Archibald 43
Match Information
Attendance: 14,440
Referee: T Dougray (Bellshill)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
At one time in this hard-fought game between the Rangers and Kilmarnock, at Rugby Park, I had the suspicion that the champions were going to leave both the points to the locals. An early goal against them, sun in their eyes, and a frost-bound pitch that had danger written all over it, was not too attractive a problem for the Rangers to solve. However, by keeping their heads and taking no risks with H Cunningham, the Rangers fought back, and it was their just award to score with the last kick of the first half. That acted as a rare interval refresher, and in the end, it seemed that the Rangers with just a little bit of luck would pull through. They had a wonderful chance when James Fleming dashed in as the game was waning and, beating everyone but the goalkeeper, just skied his parting effort inches over the bar. That was the best move of the second half, and only the bad stot of the ball kept the Ibrox centre from registering the winner. But all good credit must go to the Kilmarnock defence, who throughout a great deal of pressure never wavered, and particularly to Clemie, who may have been lucky enough, but was still a very fine keeper. There was one exceedingly crisp point-blank drive of Cunningham’s that he dropped on and saved, and there were several high, difficult balls he judged perfectly. Cunningham’s goal in the twelfth minute was a very model of how one expects a centre to score. The way in which he rounded the defence and had the keeper in two minds was perfect of execution. There were claims for penalty-kicks on both sides, but I think the referee was quite right in waiving them aside, for the ball took some queer turns off the ground, and it was a clear case of playing the man. It was a splendid game. Rangers quite deserved their point. Just a little and they might have won. And of course, I can say similar things of Kilmarnock. I don’t know how many goals Meiklejohn saved in one way or another – but they could not be counted on the fingers of one hand. Rangers kicked off into the glaring sun, and before they knew where they were Gray had to concede a corner. This was successfully cleared, and right away Fleming had a great shot which Clemie parried and then cleared. Next McPhail tried one, and this, too was on the target, but Clemie saved again. Another attack on the Rangers; goal followed. Twelve minutes after the start Cunningham received a neat pass up the middle, and rounding the back, he drew Hamilton and placed the ball into a vacant goal. Rangers went into it vigorously after this, and Cunningham sent over a scorcher. Rangers claimed a penalty for handling in the area, but Referee Dougary was right in ignoring it – the ball played the man. McLeod had a long drive after more Rangers’ pressure, but it went wide, and then Archibald and Morton sent over crosses which were narrowly put over by McPhail and Fleming. Robertson saved a low McPhail header that looked dangerous, and then Killie took a lease of life, and a corner might have been much more dangerous had Reilly steadied himself for the shot. And then H Cunningham was within an ace of scoring when he sent in a rasper that Hamilton just saved in brilliant fashion. Rangers burst away after an awkward seven minutes, and Cunningham out on the wing sent in a fine cross which was miskicked by a defender, and Archibald had an easy task on when he sent in the equaliser in what proved the very last kick of the first half. The opening stages of the second half, favoured the visitors. What a close thing it was for Kilmarnock when Alan Morton rattled one over and Cunningham, from close in, shot hard only to find Clemie bring off a wonderful save. Morton received another nice chance, and his effort was not far off the mark for it hit a post. After this came a long spell of Ibrox attacking, and four corners came quickly, and Clemie had to look slippy with a deflected Meiklejohn shot. The scene changed. Hamilton was extended by a nice Ramsay shot, but it was not for long. Following a foul against Morton, McPhail tried a header, bit it was wide, and then Fleming broke through, and after making himself an absolutely open goal, shot just over the bar. I will tell you what I thought of the Rangers team first. Primarily they didn’t like the conditions, and quite a number of them showed it, but in the circumstances, they played well enough. Hamilton saved some good shots in goal. He hesitated when Cunningham scored, but what else could he do? He played a good game. Newcomer Bob Hamilton promises to yet another Irishman who will make good in the Rangers rear. In place of countryman McCandless, he played well, His positioning and kicking I could find no fault with, but I should like to see him on softer turf. Gray played in his usual sound way. Craig was the star of the middle line. He adapted himself better than either Meiklejohn or Muirhead, but as a line this was good. Meiklejohn, I have said, was always there when danger threatened, and thus was an invaluable aid. In front neither of the wingers showed to best advantage, and Cunningham was about the best of the quintette. He was unlucky at times with his shots, but he spread the play Fleming was another unfortunate in so far as scoring goes, but he played pluckily, and McPhail got through a lot of work, and was dangerous near goal. Clemie took ever so many risks. No wonder he was limping throughout the latter portion of the game, but he kept a great goal. Both Robertson and Nibloe were sound backs. The former is a youngster of promise. He bottled up Alan Morton in the first half, cleared his lines beautifully. Nibloe too deserved praise for a gruelling afternoon’s work. In the half-back line McLeod at centre-half, in size and everything else, towered above his colleagues. He was here, there and everywhere, and always had an eye to the bog objective – Fleming. He policed this prolific scorer very successfully. Morton was next best in the line, but he was never brilliant. In front, Cunningham was the most likely forward, although he never repeated the style of his goal, and next to him I liked best Smith and Ramsay. Both the wing men got in some nice crosses.
