B McPhail 12
S Archibald 27
Match Information
Attendance: 9,000
Referee: T Small (Dundee)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
While good enough for their task at the Marine Gardens, still Rangers did not present the appearance the forwards left something to be desired. Archibald failed to impress, and Simpson tapered away considerably after a good start. Nor were the Leith men at their best. With the exception of McNeil, none of their rear men made much attempt to place the ball. The forwards, too, were ineffective. It can be said for the Marine Garden fellow, however, that they showed their customary grit and stability to fight back. They found themselves two goals after 24 minutes had gone. The first goal was a real beauty the result of a pile-driver from McPhail, who had been supplied with a perfect pass by Brown. For their second point Rangers were indebted to an opponent. Archibald put the ball across, and in an attempt to head clear Reid sent it beyond Steele. Pullar landed the ball on top of the crossbar, and Laidlaw missed a good chance, but Leith were generally well held by the Ibrox halfs and were finding it difficult to get to close quarters. They kept going however, and when Simpson missed the ball after Crawford had sent it into the middle, Laidlaw immediately fastened on and scored. Play had been good in the first half, the best of it coming from the Rangers left, where Brown was always well up in support of McPhail and Morton. In the second half, however, things were humdrum for a spell. Rangers did the bulk of the attacking but could not press home their attack. Smith was not making the most of his opportunities. The Leith men defended stoutly, but their backs were bonny kickers. Steele should have been asked to do much more than to save a couple of shots one from Morton and another from Archibald which he did splendidly. Fifteen minutes from the end Mitchell, the better of the Leiths backs, was assisted to the pavilion with a dislocated shoulder. The remaining ten played gallantly and came near springing a surprise when T Hamilton was out of goal and R Hamilton had to clear on the line. With five minutes to go, however, Rangers put any possibility of a surprise out of the question, Smith came away with a good movement in which Archibald also had a hand before the ball was sent across for Morton to score. Rangers were worthy winners. Their rear men were able for all that came their way which was not a great deal. Gray and Hamilton offered a stout front to the opposition. Brown was the best half-back, with Meiklejohn a good second. In front, McPhail and Morton were best, with Craig not far behind. On the days showing Leith had the outstanding middleman. McNeil stood out above any of his fellows on the Leith side. Reid and Steele were the pick of the others. None of the forwards came much into the picture
